Social Change

Question 1

Religion as a conservative force

Answer 1

(no change)

• Marxism
• Feminism
• Functionalism

Question 2

Dual character of religion

Answer 2

Bloch
Religion has both a negative and positive influence on social change
Images of utopia can help the world see what needs to be changed
Religion can create an image of a better world and bring about social change

Question 3

Religion can lead to social protest

Answer 3

Bruce

• Black clergy formed the backbone of the civil rights movement
• Church provided meeting places and a sanctuary from racism
• Black clergy were able to shame white clergy through their shared Christian value of equality and hypocrisy of preaching ‘love thy neighbour’
• Black churches successfully campaigned for support across America

Question 4

Calvinism led to social change

Answer 4

Weber

• The idea of predestination (God has already decided who will enter Heaven) caused salvation panic, Calvinists did not know whether they’d be saved
• No individual could predict God’s wishes
• Glorified God by devoting themselves to work, would not earn salvation, simply a religious duty
• Led a worldly ascetic lifestyle, luxury is shunned
• Acquired vast amounts of wealth, did not believe in spending - invest, help business grow
• Emergence of Capitalism

Question 5

Evaluation of Weber

Answer 5

Tawney
Tech changes, caused the birth of capitalism. It was after capitalism that the Bourgeoise adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimise their pursuit of economic gain

Question 6

Liberation theology and social change

Answer 6

• Movement emerged in the Catholic Church in Latin America, previously a conservative institution
• Deepening poverty, human rights abuses
• Priests helped the poor to establish support groups called base communities
• Priests were often the only authority figures who took the side of the oppressed

Question 7

Evaluation of liberation theology

Answer 7

Casanova
Emphasises that it played an important role in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy

Question 8

Evaluation of liberation theology 2

Answer 8

Maduro
Religion can be seen as a revolutionary force that brings about change. In the liberation theology, religious ideas radicalised the Catholic clergy in defence of the peasants and workers, making them believe serving the poor was a religious duty