Social change and religious beliefs

Question 1

Religion as a conservative force

Answer 1

• Religion preserves traditional beliefs and prevents social change:
• No contraception
• No divorce
• Don’t be gay

Question 2

Functionalists think that religion is a conservative force. They think this because…

Answer 2

• Religion socialises us into these norms and values and it sacralises society’s key values.
• Malinowski (functionalist) = difficult situations.

Question 3

Marxists think that religion is a conservative ideology. They think this because…

Answer 3

• It oppresses people, the Bible legitimises inequality.
• “Blessed are the meak”

Question 4

Some feminists think that religion is a conservative force. They think this because…

Answer 4

• It reinforces patriarchy.

Question 5

Weber: religion as a force for change

Answer 5

• Calvinism encouraged its followers to work hard and reinvest money into businesses.
• This accidentally caused social change, which helped capitalism to grow.
• Calvinism encouraged its followers to live asetic (humble) lives, as God has decided who’s going to heaven and who isn’t.
• Leads to salvation anxiety.

Question 6

Hinduism + Confuscionism (supports Weber’s argument)

Answer 6

• Hinduism teaches ascetism, don’t waste your money on things - but doesn’t teach to work hard. India had the resources to develop capitalism, but didn’t because of the lack of work-ethic.
• Confuscionism - ‘life is duty’

Question 7

Kautsky (criticism of Weber)

Answer 7

• Capitalism came first
• Calvinism invented to encourage the proletariat to work hard

Question 8

Bruce - The American Civil Rights Movement

Answer 8

• The American Civil Rights Movement was a response to racial segregation in America, came about in 1964.
• The CRM used Christianity as a resource to help their case.
• Many civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr were pastors and ministers.
• Used Bible teachings to oppose racism.
• It was SUCCESSFUL as most white Americans at least formally accepted the ideology of equality.

Question 9

Bruce - The New Christian Right

Answer 9

• They wanted to ban divorce, abortion, homosexuality, contraception, pornography and sex education.

Question 10

Engels

Answer 10

• Religion has a dual character.
• Sometimes it stops change from happening, but sometimes it inspires them to make change.
• E.g. John Ball (1381) said when God made Adam and Eve, he did not make one superior to the other. It is the fault of men, not God.

Question 11

Bloch

Answer 11

• Agrees with Engels that religion has a dual character.
• Religion gives us the idea of a better world. Some people will be inspired to create that better world now, whereas some will say that there is nothing you can do about it -> wait until the next life.

Question 12

Liberation theology

Answer 12

• Brutal dictatorships all around South America led to LT. E.g. when Chile’s right wing government came to power, Pinochet, backed by Church, UK, USA.
• LT is a movement in the Catholic church when low position priests side with the people. Used weapons, etc…
• Vatican was so hostile to LT as ‘it encourages war’ and ‘it would overthrow them’.
• Oscar Romero is a key example in LT.

Question 13

Maduro

Answer 13

• Religion can be a revolutionary force for social change.

Question 13

Worsley

Answer 13

-Millenarian movements- a coming fundamental transformation of society, after which “all things will be changed”. MM’s usually appeal to the poor as poor people’s lives are unpleasant and they want the world to change.

Question 14

Millenarian movements

Answer 14

• Jesus is going to come back and rule for a thousand years.
• Imminent, supernatural, transformation of the world.