topic two religion and social change Flashcards
aside from a conservative force, what do sociologists see religion as and give an example of who
Weber sees religion as a force for change
what was Weber’s study
The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism
briefly outline this study
- religious beliefs of Calvinism helped bring about social change - capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries
what does Weber mean by the spirit of capitalism
- modern capitalism being based on the systematic, rational pursuit of profit not for the sake of materialistic consumption
- this spirit had a elective affinity to the Calvinist beliefs which brought about capitalism
what are the 4 distinct beliefs of Calvinism
- predestination
- divine transcendence
- asceticism
- the idea of a vocation or calling
describe predestination
God has already elected the souls which go to heaven before birth
and this decision could not be altered by any means such as pilgrimages or prayer
describe divine transcendence
- the belief that God was far beyond comprehending, no mortal had access to his will other than what is revealed in the bible is very prominent in Calvinism
- this made them feel ‘an unprecedented inner loneliness’
- combined with predestination the Calvinists gained a sense of salvation panic
describe asceticism
leading a life of abstinence and self discipline which meant that they refrained from dabbling in luxury purchases, wore simple clothes and instead devotes themselves to God and a life of prayer
describe the idea of a vocation or calling
- engaging methodical work in an occupation was seen as a religious duty
- this was the only sign to relieve the Calvinists from a salvation panic as they believed they were put onto Earth to glorify God’s name through their work
- this was a form of this wordly asceticism: instead of devoting their life to join a monastery, they had a vocation towards work
as a result of these beliefs what type of lifestyle did Calvinists lead
they led an ascetic lifestyle where they refrained from luxury, worked for long hours and practices rigorous self discipline
what was the result of this lifestyle
- their wealth and success began to form a psychological function as they saw this growth as a sign of their salvation
- in their view, if this was not a good sign from God, then why else are we succeeding
- second of all, due to their ascetic lifestyle they were able to reinvest their disposable profits that they had accumlated into their business which generated of cycle of preosperity and reinvestment
- therefore Calvinism brought about capitalism
-
however what else did Weber note
- not all societies with high levels of economic development developed into modern capitalism
- e.g. China (Confucianism) and India (Hinudism) were more economically advanced than Europe but did not develop into capitalist societies due to their religious belief systems turning them towards other-wordly beliefs or the lack of asceticism
evaluate Weber views on social change
- Kautsky argues Webre overestimates the role of ideas and beliefs and underestimates the role of economic factors in the process of the rise of capitalism
- Capitalism did not develop in every country where there were strong Calvinists e.g. Scotlamd
Bruce agrees with Weber and also beliefs religion can trigger social change : true or false
True
What two examples does Bruce use to understand the role of religion in social change in America
- the civil rights movement
- the New Christian Right
when and why did the American civil rights movement (acrm) occur
- 50s and 60s
- to end racial segregation, eventhough slavery had been ablished, Black people were denied legal and political rights and segregation was enforces as they could not use some of the same public goods as WHite poeple e.g buses
how did the acrm begin
- began in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of teh bus as Black people were expected to
- this event triggered multiple campaigns and boycotts
- this led to segregation beign outlawed in 1964
how did religion play a key role in the acrm for black people
- the black clergy such as Martin Luther King acted as a central source of support to the movement
- they had the the ability to use churches as meeting places and as a sasnctuary from the threats and attacks
- churches provided them with rituals such as prayer meetings and hymn singing were a source of unity during times of oppression and segregation, enabling the movement to grow
how did religion play a key role in the acrm against white people and their racist attitudes
- taking the moral high ground:the black clergy were able to shame whites by pointing out their hypocrisy as they preach ‘love thy neighbour’ but contributed to the racial discrimination
- acting as an honest broker: Churches are trusted, respected institutions that can mediate between different groups in society, especially in conflicts or campaigns for change. Unlike political organisations, churches are often seen as morally neutral and above self-interest, which allows them to bring people together across social and political divides
therefore Bruce sees religiona as an
ideological resource
what is the New Christian Right
- a politically and morally conservative, Protestant fundamentalist movement
- gained prominence in 1960s following their opposition to liberalisation of American society
what are the aims and key beliefs of the ncr
- seek to take America ‘back to God’
- they strongly belief in the traditional nuclear family which upholds traditional gender roles
- are against anything which goes against this e.g. they want to make divorce, homosexuality, abortion illegal and ban sex ed in schools
- campaign for creationism (the belief that the Bible is literally true)
what have the ncr effectively done
they have effectively used the media, specifically through televangelism aimed at making converts and recruiting new members
yet, why has the ncr been unsuccessful
- lack of cooperation of members with other religious groups even if they are campaigning on the same issues
- lacks widespread support due to the deeply rooted liberal and democratic values in American society
- therefore it is impossible to demand theocracy in a mature democracy
what is assumed of the Marxist view of religion and what is the reality
- that they believe it is an entirely conservative ideology which legitimate class inequalities
- however, in reality they recognise that religious ideas have relative autonomy
what do Marxists mean by religious ideas have relative autonomy
- they can be partly independent fromt he economic base of society
as a result of relative autonomy, what does religion have and what does this mean
- Engels created the idea that religion has a dual character
- it inhibits chnage by disguising and legitimising inequality but also preaches liberation from slavery and misery so can also challenge the status quo
how does Marx see religion in this context
‘the heart of a heartless world’
- he sees religion being capable of humanising a world even if the comfort it offers is illlusory
explain Bloch’s view on religion
- Bloch also sees religion as having a dual character
- we must recognise both the positive and negative impacts of religion
- it can inhibit change but also inspire protest
- as a result religion is an expression of ‘the principle of hope’
define principle of hope
our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia
how does Bloch use the principle of hope to explain how it can also do the opposite of deceiving people (as Marx claims)
- utopia is a promise of the rewards in heaven
- however, this can inspire people to understand what is wrong in this world and encourages them to seek the same joy in the real world thereby sparking rebellion and social change
