Topic 2: Religion and Social Change:

Question 1

Religion as a conservative force:

How can religion be seen as a conservative force? e.g. traditional

Answer 1

Religion can often be seen as a conservative force in the sense of being traditional, defending traditional customs, institutions, moral views.

It upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be organised.

Question 2

Key word:

What does conservative force mean?

Answer 2

Something that prevents change in society.

Question 3

Religion as a conservative force:

How is religion a conservative force e.g. it conserves

Answer 3

It is conservative because it functions to conserve/ preserve things as they way that they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo.

Question 4

Key word:

What does status quo mean?

Answer 4

Keeping the things the way that they are.

Question 5

Religion as a conservative force:

How are religions traditional/conservative in their beliefs?

Answer 5

Most religions have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many oppose changes that would allow people more freedom in personal and sexual matters.

e.g. The Catholic Church forbids divorce and abortion. It also is against gay marriage and homosexual sex.

Question 6

Religion as a conservative force:

How are religions traditional/conservatives in their values?

Answer 6

Religions uphold ‘family values’ ( the traditional nuclear family) and favour a traditional patriarchal domestic division of labour (where women do all the housework)

e.g. In the wedding vows, brides vow to
vows to ‘love, honour and obey’, but the groom is only required to ‘love and honour’. Shows the dominance and how society is patriarchal. It suppresses women.

e.g. Traditional conservative values are also seen in non-Christian religions e.g. Hinduism endorses male domestic authority (head of the house) and the practice of arranged marriage (the man chooses who the daughter will marry). Shows patriarchy. Women have no say in their lives. Their lives are dominated by men’s decisions.

Question 7

Examples of religious social change:

What are some examples of how religion lead to social change?

Answer 7

The Civil Rights Movement

The New Christian Right in USA - ultimately led to the overturning of Roe Wade

Calvinism lead to capitalism growing in Northern Europe.

The Liberation Theology Movement

Question 8

Religion as a conservative force:

What is the function of religion? (briefly)

Answer 8

Religion is also a conservative force in that it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are and maintain the status quo.

With functionalists seeing this a positive thing and Marxists and Feminists seeing this as a negative thing.

Functionalists, Marxists and Feminists argue that it contributes to social stability.

Question 9

Religion as a conservative force:

What is the function of religion according to Functionalists e.g. consensus (use sociologists)

Answer 9

e.g. (Durkheim - the function of religion is to bring people together so that everyone has the same norms and values (value consenus) (means that society doesn’t disintegrate)

e.g. Religion also also helps people to deal with stresses that would otherwise disrupt the life of society (Malinowski 1954 - religion functions to help people with stresses that would undermine social solidarity)

Question 10

Religion is a conservative force:

How do Marxists and Feminists criticise the function of religion?

Answer 10

Marxists and feminists see religion as an ideology that supports the existing social structure and acts as a means of social control, creating stability in the interests of the powerful.

This helps to maintain the status quo by preventing the less powerful (the W/C and women from changing things.

Question 11

Religion as a conservative force:

What is the function of religion according to Marxists (use sociologist)

Answer 11

Marx sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social change.

e.g. Religion operates in an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and God-given.

e.g. Religion misleads the poor not believing that their suffering is God-give and that they will be favoured in the afterlife. These ideas create a false consciousness that prevents the poor from acting to change their situation.

Question 12

Key word:

What does false consciousness mean?

Answer 12

A situation in which members of a lower social class are unaware to their class interests and instead adopt beliefs of the ruling class.

This misperception can lead to people to support systems and policies that work against their own economic and social interests.

e.g. workers may believe that they can achieve success through meritocracy rather than realising that because they way society is made it prevents the W/C from achieving.

Question 13

Religion as a conservative force:

What is the function of religion according to Feminists? (use sociologist)

Answer 13

Feminists see religion as a conservative force because it acts as an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination in the family and wider society.

e.g. In Islam menstruating women aren’t allowed to touch the Qur’an as they are deemed to be unholy e.g. Holm (2001) - this shows the devaluation of women in religion. They are seen lesser than men.

e.g. Sacred texts have men being the male gods and prophets and are usually written and interpreted by men. Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes such as Eve in Judaism and Christianity caused the fall of humanity fall from grace and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Because of this it allows men to treated women as second best

Question 14

Religion and Social Protest:

What two religious inspired movements have tried to change society.

Answer 14

The Civil Rights Movement (1960s)

The New Christian Right

Question 15

Religion and Social Protest:

What was the aim of the Civil Rights Movement (use sociologist)

Answer 15

Bruce - the aim was to end segregation between black people and white people in America

Question 16

Religion and Social Protest:

What led to the Civil Rights Movement

Answer 16

Although slavery had been abolished in 1865, black people were still denied legal and political rights in many southern states were segregation was still enforced preventing them from using shops, buses and toilets as white people.

Schools were segregated and interracial marriage was illegal. Black people were excluded from voting by various legal restrictions and intimidation e.g. the KKK

Question 17

Religion and Social Protest:

When did the Civil Rights Movement begin?

Answer 17

The Civil Rights Movement began when Rosa Parks a black civil rights activist in Alabama refused to sit at the back of a bus as black people were expected to which led black people to fight for their freedoms to be equal to white people.

Question 18

Religion and Social Protest:

How did people within the Civil Rights Movement protest?

Answer 18

Campaigning involved direct action by black people themselves e.g. protest march’s, boycotts and demonstrations. In 1964, segregation was made illegal.

Question 19

Religion and Social Protest:

How did the Civil Rights Movement lead to social change (use sociologist)

Answer 19

Bruce - the black clergy was the backbone of the movement.

Their churches provided a meeting place and sanctuary from the threat of white violence and rituals such as prayer meetings were a source of unity in the face of oppression. (Malinowski 1954) - religion functions to help people cope with psychological and emotional stresses that would undermine social solidarity.

Bruce argues that the black clergy were able to shame white people into changing the law by appealing to their shared Christian values of equality (challenging hegemony) (Gramsci)

Question 20

Religion and Social Protest:

Evaluation that the Civil Rights Movement led to social change?

Answer 20

The impact on the white clergy was limited meaning that although segregation was made illegal racism still continued and the threat of white violence through the KKK was still a threat showing that religion doesn’t always lead to social change.

Question 21

Religion and Social Protest:

How can religion be seen as an ideological resource (use sociologist)

Answer 21

Bruce sees religion as an ideological resource as it provides beliefs and practices that protestors could draw on for motivation and support to enable the to change society for the better.

Question 22

Religion and Social Protest:

How can religion be seen as an ideological resource through the civil rights movement e.g. moral ground

Answer 22

Taking the moral high ground - black clergy pointed out hypocrisy of the white clergy who preached ‘love thy neighbour’ but supported racial segregation.

Segregation went against God’s will of what everyone should be treated equally as segregation saw black people as inferior/less than white people

Question 23

Religion and Social Protest:

How can religion be seen as an ideological resource through the civil rights movement e.g. challenging

Answer 23

Challenging dissent (challenging those that didn’t agree) - religion provided channels to express political dissent (disagreement) e.g. the funeral for Martin Luther king was a rallying point for the Civil Rights causes as he was murdered by a white supremacist highlighting the the constant threat of white violence.

e.g. in 2020 the BLM movement after the death of George Floyd showed also challenging dissent. Social media was used a lot to challenge the violence against black people.

Question 24

Religion and Social Protest:

How can religion be seen as becoming more involved with secular struggle? (use sociologist)

Answer 24

Bruce - the civil rights movement as an example of religion becoming more involved in secular struggle and helping to bring about change. The movement achieved its aims because it shared the same values as wider society and those in power.

It brought about change by shaming those in power to put into practice the principle of equality embodied in the American Constitution that all men and women were born equal.

(Gramsci - counter hegemony can happen when the w/c challenge the ruling class. He argued that religion can help workers see through ruling class hegemony by offering a vision of a better, fairer world.

Question 25

Religion and social protest:

What is the New Christian Right movement

Answer 25

The New Christian Right were a minority group of the Protestant Christian fundamentalists (believing that the bible is 100% true.

Question 26

Religion and social protest:

What was the aim of the New Christian Right Movement?

Answer 26

They wanted to take America back to God as they believed that American society had been corrupted by liberal values e.g. values about sex and sexuality.

They wanted to make abortion illegal, homosexuality and gay marriage illegal.

Many wanted the USA as a Christian nation with laws that are rooted in the Bible.

Question 27

Religion and social protest:

What are the beliefs of the New Christian Right and what do they campaign for?

Answer 27

The New Christian Right believes strongly in the traditional family and traditional gender roles.

It campaigns for the teaching of ‘creationism’ (the view that the Bible’s account of creation is literally true) and to ban sex education in schools.

Question 28

Religion and social protest:

How does the NCR use media in order to spread their beliefs?

Answer 28

The New Christian Right has made effective use of the media and networking, notably televangelism (where church-owned television) stations raise funds and broadcast programmes aimed at making converts and recruiting new members.

Question 29

Religion and social protest:

How do the NCR use politics in order to share their views?

Answer 29

Right-wing Christian pressure groups have also become the focus for political campaigning and for strengthening links with the Republican Party.

Slogan: ‘Get em saved; get em baptised; get em registered’ - registered to vote to gain power in US politics. Ultimately it sort of worked because of the overturning of Roe v Wade?

Question 30

Religion and social protest:

How have the NCR not been successful in their aims? (use sociologist) e.g. working together

Answer 30

Bruce argues that the NCR have been unsuccessful in their aims because

Campaigners can’t work with people from other religious groups, even when campaigning on the same issue, such as abortion. Because they can’t come to some sort of consensus they fail to be productive unlike the CRM which all had the same values even if from different religions.

Question 31

Religion and social protest:

How have the NCR not been successful in their aims? (use sociologist) e.g. support

Answer 31

 Bruce argues that the NCR have been unsuccessful in their aims because

It lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice. Their values don’t align with the values of modern society e.g. views on abortion.

Surveys show that most Americans are fine with things such as such as abortion, homosexuality and pornography and do not want people to interfere with their lives even if they think what they are doing is wrong.

This brings conflict with the NCR which believes in the literal truth of the Bible and insists everyone should be made to conform to its teaching. As Bruce points out, this is an impossible demand to make in a mature democracy.

Question 32

Religion and social protest:

How have the NCR not been successful in their aims? (use sociologist) e.g. beliefs

Answer 32

Though the NCR have lots of publicity in the media it hasn’t made America ‘ turn back to God’.

Bruce argues that by the NCR trying to force Protestant fundamentalist morality on others it has failed because of liberal and democratic values of most of American society. Everyone is free to make their own decisions. They have their own autonomy. No one should make decisions for them.

These values include a belief in the separation of church and state - very few Americans support the idea of a theocracy (rule by religious leaders).

Question 33

Religion and social protest:

What does fundamentalist mean

Answer 33

Believing that the bible is 100% true and literal. NONE OF IT IS METAPHORICAL OR SHOULD BE INTERPRETTED DIFFERENTLY.

Question 34

Religion as a force for change:

How can religion be used as a force for social change? (use sociologist)

Answer 34

Weber’s (1905) - argues that the religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social change
e.g. modern capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Weber argues that past societies had capitalism but it was based on greed and wealth and lead to it being spent on luxuries.

However, modern capitalism is based on being efficient, rational pursuit of profit just because you can, rather than for consumption (spirit of capitalism).

This spirit of capitalism has many links to Calvinists’ beliefs and attitudes.

Question 35

Key word:

What does Calvinism mean?

Answer 35

The idea that God is all powerful and controls everything including who gets saved ‘The Elect’ and ‘The Damned’ and this is decided at birth (predestination)

People cannot work for their salvation but they work because it glorifies God.

Question 36

Key word:

What does salvation panic mean

Answer 36

People being scared/in fear that they wouldn’t go to heaven

Question 37

Key word:

What does ascetic lifestyle mean

Answer 37

To live a life that doesn’t have luxuries in it (IT IS SIMPLE)

Question 38

Key word:

What does Protestant work ethic mean

Answer 38

To work hard as it the right thing to do. God ordains this

Question 39

Religion as a force for change:

What are Calvinist beliefs e.g. predestination

Answer 39

God had predetermined which souls would be saved - ‘the elect’ - and which would not, even before birth.

People can do nothing to change this, God’s decision is already made and cannot be altered.

Question 40

Religion as a force for change:

What are Calvinist beliefs e.g. vocation/calling (use sociologist)

Answer 40

Calvinism introduces the idea of this-worldly asceticism meaning that though people cannot work for their salvation they work because it is their religious duty to. They were put on this earth to praise God.

This led Calvinists to an ascetic lifestyle (getting rid of luxury) and in turn led them to gain money as they weren’t spending it and wealth and success performed the psychological function of allowing them to cope with their salvation panic as thy thought the were part of the elect as God had favoured them through money

Calvinism thus brought capitalism as we now know it into the world.

Question 41

Religion as a force for social change:

What were the impact of hard work and having an ascetic lifestyle? e.g. psychological function

Answer 41

Their wealth and success performed the psychological function for the Calvinists that allowed them to cope with their salvation panic. (Malinowski 1954) - religion functions to help people cope with psychological and emotional stresses that would undermine social solidarity.

As they grew wealthier, they toom this as a sign of God’s favour and their salvation - as why else would people prosper if God was going to end them to hell.

Question 42

Religion as a force for social change:

What were the impact of hard work and having an ascetic lifestyle? e.g. work ethic

Answer 42

Driven by their work ethic, they became wealthier incredibly efficiently e.g. less spending and more saving and reinvesting it into businesses and this cycle continues.

In Weber’s view, this is the very spirit of modern capitalism - where the object is simply the gain more money just because you can.

Question 43

Religion as a force for change:

How has Hinduism and Confucianism fail to lead their economy to grow? (use sociologist)

Answer 43

Weber - The failure of capitalism to take off in China and India was due to the lack of a religious belief system like that of Calvinism that would have motivated them like in the 16th it was Christianity.

Both Hinduism (not worldly religion) but was ascetic) and Confucianism (worldly religion however not an ascetic lifestyle)

Lacked the drive to efficiently get wealth that is necessary for modern capitalism. Because Calvinism combined asceticism with a this-worldly religion it helped to bring modern capitalism.

Question 44

Key word:

What does not/worldly-orientation (religion)

Answer 44

A focus on material and practical aspects of life rather than spiritual/religious concerns

People with a worldly orientation might priorities success, wealth and social relationships than being spiritual and going to a place of worship.

Question 45

Evaluation for religion being a force for social change:

Criticisms that Calvinism is a force for social change:

Answer 45

Kautsky (1927) argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing capitalism into being. He argues that in fact capitalism came before followed Calvinism.

R.H. Tawney (1926) argues that technological change, not religious ideas, caused the birth of capitalism. It was only after capitalism was established that the bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their pursuit of economic gain.

Question 46

Evaluation for religion being a force for social change:

Strengths of how Calvinism is a force for social change:

Answer 46

Many people in the present are ‘workaholics’ working more hours than they need to. This shows that the Protestant work ethic has become a significant part of capitalist culture.

The Eurozone crisis (2008) provides evidence for a link between the Protestant work ethic and successful capitalism. Mainly Protestant countries such as Sweden and Norway had fewer economic problems after the crash.

The countries that were most in debt were Ireland, Italy and these countries were predominantly Catholic showing how capitalism was influential to the economy.

Question 47

Marxism, religion and change:

What is the Liberation Theology movement?

Answer 47

Movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end of the 1960s, with a strong commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorships.

Question 48

Key word:

What does military dictatorship mean

Answer 48

When soldiers have complete authority

Question 49

Key word:

What does Latin America mean

Answer 49

Central and Latin America.

Question 50

Marxism, religion and change:

How was the Liberation Theology Movement a change in direction for the Catholic Church?

Answer 50

For centuries, the Catholic Church had been extremely conservative encouraging the acceptance of poverty and supporting wealthy elites and military dictatorships.

Question 51

Marxism, religion and change:

What were the factors that led to the LTM? e.g. poverty

Answer 51

Growing rural poverty and the growth of urban slums throughout Latin America led to people wanting change.

Question 52

Marxism, religion and change:

What were the factors that led to the LTM? e.g. human rights

Answer 52

 After the military take-overs people’s human rights were often abused .

e.g. torture and death squads murdering political opponents in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

Question 53

Marxism, religion and change:

What were the factors that led to the LTM? e.g. ideology

Answer 53

 Catholic priests became more supportive to an ideology that supported the poor and opposed violations of human rights.

Question 54

Marxism, religion and change:

How did the LTM help the poor?

Answer 54

Traditional Catholicism wanted to keep society the way that it is.

Liberation theology movement set out to change society.

Priests helped the poor to establish support groups and helped workers and peasants to fight oppression under the protection of the church.

Priests developed literacy programmes, educating the poor about their situation, raising awareness and mobilising support from others.

At this time (1970s), priests were often the only authority figures who took the side of the oppressed when dictatorships used murder squads and torture to hold on to power.

Question 55

Marxism, religion and change:

How did the LTM lose power?

Answer 55

In the 1980s , The Pope condemned liberation theology on the grounds that it resembled Marxism, and instructed priests to concentrate on pastoral activities, not political struggle meaning that priests lost their influence and the work that they had done was stopped.

Question 56

Marxism, religion and change:

How did the LTM not show how religion can lead to social change?

Answer 56

Maduro (1982) believes that religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about radical change.

In the LTM religious ideas were radicalised in the Catholic clergy in the defence of the peasants and workers, making them see that serving the poor was part of the Christian duty (challenging hegemony)

Lowy (2005) - question Marx’s view that religion always legitimates social inequality. Both Maduro and Lowy see LTM as an example of religiously inspired social change is defined.

Question 57

Evaluation of the LTM:

How did the LTM not show how religion can lead to social change?

Answer 57

LTM may have helped to bring round democracy but it dd not threaten the stability of capitalism

Question 58

Marxism, religion and change:

How is liberation theology being challenged by the Pentecostal church?

Answer 58

Lehmann (1996) - liberation theology offers an option for the poor of community consciousness- raising and campaigning for social change led by priests and nuns in jeans and sandals. However Pentecostalism offers an option for the poor to pull themselves out of poverty through their own efforts, supported by the congregation and led by church pastors.

Liberation theology offers a radical solution to poverty through collective improvement through public action while Pentecostalism’s solution is conservative individual self improvement through the private sphere of family and the church

Question 59

Marxism, religion and change:

How do Marxists see religion? (use sociologist)

Answer 59

Marxists view religion as a entirely conservative ideology that isa set of ruling-class ideas that legitimate the class inequalities in society’s economic base.

However, Marxists argue that some religious ideas allow people to exert autonomy over themselves . As a result, religion can have a dual character and can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability.

Marx argues that religion is capable of humanising a world made inhuman by exploitation, even if the comfort it offers is illusory.

Question 60

Marxism, religion and change:

How does religion have a dual character (use sociologist)

Answer 60

Engels (1895) argues that although religion prevents change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change

e.g. religion sometimes preaches liberation from slavery and misery. Also, lower ranks within the church hierarchy have often supported or even inspired and organised popular protest therefore even though religion is manipulative it can also be used for good showing its dual character e.g. CRM

Question 61

Marxism, religion and change:

How can religion provide hope for a better future? (use sociologist)

Answer 61

Ernst Bloch (1959) argues that religion is an expression of ‘the principle of hope’ - our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia (the perfect world).

Although images of a utopia can deceive people with promises of rewards in heaven, they can also help people see what needs to be changed in this world.

Religious beliefs create a vision of a better world and if combined with effective political organisation and leadership, can bring about social change.

Question 62

Marxism, religion and change:

How can religion counter the control of ruling class ideas (us sociologist)

Answer 62

Gramsci - counter hegemony can happen when the w/c challenge the ruling class. He argued that religion can help workers see through ruling class hegemony by offering a vision of a better, fairer world.

Billings study - showed how counter hegemony works in 2 w/c communities in the USA in the 1920s and 1930s. The mining workers went to churches that encouraged them to stick up for their working rights but the textile workers were encouraged not to protest by their churches. Billings concluded that religion was an important factor in this class struggle.

His study showed that the same religion can either defend the suffering or challenge it. (miners gained working rights, textile workers didn’t)

Gramsci - religion can have a dual character. It can either be bad for people or it can have a positive impact and change society for the better

Question 63

Marxism, religion and change:

How does religion either support or reject hegemony e.g. leadership

Answer 63

Billings (1990) - Used Gramsci’s study to argue that the differences in levels can be understood in terms of hegemony and the role of religion. Billings argues that religion can either support or challenge employers hegemony.

Leadership - the miners benefitted from the leadership of intellectuals - many of them were themselves miners and trade union activists. These clergy helped to convert miners to the union cause (used religion to tell miners that God approved of justice, they should strike). Textile workers lacked leadership.

Question 64

Marxism, religion and change:

How does religion either support or reject hegemony e.g. organisation

Answer 64

Billings (1990) - Used Gramsci’s study to argue that the differences in levels can be understood in terms of hegemony and the role of religion. Billings argues that religion can either support or challenge employers hegemony.

Organisation - The miners were able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise, whereas the textile workers lacked this space (doesn’t allow them to form ideas and can isolate people into thinking that they are the only ones suffering so they shouldn’t rebel)

Question 65

Marxism, religion and change:

How does religion either support or reject hegemony e.g. support

Answer 65

Billings (1990) - Used Gramsci’s study to argue that the differences in levels can be understood in terms of hegemony and the role of religion. Billings argues that religion can either support or challenge employers hegemony.

Support - The churches kept miners morale high with supportive sermons, prayer meetings and group sinning, by contrast, textile workers who engaged in union activity met with opposition from the church. Textile workers feel like God does not approve - as the church doesn’t - preventing change from happening.