Topic 2: Religion and social change

Question 1

Weber

Answer 1

Religion as a force for change:
The Protestant ethic of Calvinism lead to modern capitalism- predestination, divine transcendence, asceticism and idea of a vocation/calling lead to a systematic pursuit of profit for profits own sake. Wealth and successes allowed them to cope with salvation panic.

Hinduism and Confucianism- Hinduism was ascetic but other-worldly. Confucianism was this-worldly but not ascetic. This is why modern capitalism did not take off in Ancient India and China

Question 2

Criticisms of Weber

Answer 2

Kautsky- underestimates economic factors
Tawney- texhnocilogcla change lead to modern capitalism. Capitalists then adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their economic pursuit

Question 3

Bruce

Answer 3

Religion and social protest:
The American civil rights movement- religion acted as an ideological resource: taking the moral high ground, channelling dissent, acting as honest broker, mobilising public opinion
The New Christian Right- Wish to take America ‘back to God’- a time before liberalisation of American culture using televangelism. This has been unsuccessful for three reasons: the moral majority was never a majority, campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, lack widespread support and have met opposition from groups standing for freedom of choice.

To have the desired effect campaign groups need to share the basic values of society such as democracy, equality and religious freedom

Question 4

Bloch

Answer 4

Religion has a dual character- can be an expression of the principle of hope ( dreams of a better life and utopia) which can inspire protest and rebellion as it makes people see what needs to be changed in the world.

Question 5

Casanova

Answer 5

Liberation theology- movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America in the late 1960s with a commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorships. Set out to change society. In the 1970s they actively resisted state terror. Played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy

Question 6

Worsley

Answer 6

Millenarian movements- expect the total and imminent transformation of the world by supernatural means. European colonialism led to cargo cults in Melanesia. They were pre-political; used religious ideas and images but united populations into mass movements.

Engels argues that they represented the first awakening of proletarian self-consciousness

Question 7

Gramsci

Answer 7

Hegemony- the ideological domination of society. The ruling class use religion to do this.

However the working class can develop a counter-hegemony. Popular forms of religion can help workers see through the working class hegemony by offering a vision of a better, fairer world. Clergy may actually s as organic intellectuals to help and support workers.

Question 8

Billings

Answer 8

Applies Gramsci’s ideas in a case study comparing two communities in Kentucky in the 1920s and 30s. Both were evangelically Protestant. The coal miners were more militant struggling for recognition of their union and better conditions, while the textile workers were more quiescent; uncomplainingly accepting the status quo:
Leadership- miners benefited from leadership of organic intellectuals
Organisation- miners able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise, textile workers remained in company churches
Support- churches kept miners morale high, textile workers were met with opposition
However there were non-religious factors- miners has stronger solidarity as they had to rely on each other for safety

Question 9

Religion as a conservative force

Answer 9

1. Religion has conservative beliefs

2. Religion has conservative functions- maintaining consensus, capitalism or patriarchy