Topic 2 Religion, Social Change and Ideologies Flashcards
What are the two different senses that suggest religion is a conservative force?
- It is seen as conservative in the sense of being traditional as it defends customs, institutions, moral views and roles.
- It functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo.
What beliefs characterise the Catholic church’s conservatism?
They forbid: divorce, abortion and artificial contraception.
They oppose: gay marriage and condemns homosexual behaviour.
How is Hinduism a conservative force?
Endorses male domestic authority and the practice of arranged marriage.
Which schools of thought believe that religion is a conservative force?
Marxists, functionalist and feminists - however they see the role of religion differently yet all argue that it contributes to social solidarity
Religion and consensus
Why do functionalist see religion as a social force?
Maintain social stability
Prevents society from disintegrating
Creates values consensus - reducing the chance of individual selfish acts
What is an ideology?
Set of political beliefs
Generic ideas or beliefs in a class
Dominant set of idea or beliefs in society
Official beliefs of a political system or figure
Total view of reality
What is the Marxist ideology?
Society keeps workers in their rightful places, it segments society into the bourgeoise and proletariat. It’s designed to give false class consciousness and a view of life that makes us behave.
What is the feminist ideology?
They do not like the idea of a patriarchal society
What is the liberalist and pluralist ideology?
These people have different ideas about society
Laissez-faire does not believe in the total control over the truth of meaning, there should be many accepted truth, and many religious beliefs. There is not a monopoly of truth.
Williams’ view on the Marxist ideology
The ruling class is individualistic. The working class are collectivist (group action - unions).
EV -
Very deterministic
Abercrombie etal view on the Marxist ideology
It is not the dominant ideology making us behave but the fear of losing our jobs.
Gramski’s view of the working class and ruling class ideology?
The non dominant working class ideology is less successful than the dominant one. The ruling class ideology is often perceived as common sense and unquestionable. Questions are not asked because the ruling class control all.
What is the surplus value theory?
Wages do not meet the true value of the employee but people do not question this because they do not know their true value.
What is the new-marxists homogenous view?
‘We go to work for intrinsic reward’. This is not a dominant view.
What is maheim’s ideological thought?
It is a set of beliefs to justify and maintain existing social order
