RELIGION AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Religion as a conservative force

It is ‘traditional’, defending traditional roles, views, morals, and upholds the organisation of a traditional society. Also functions to conserve or preserve things as they are, maintaining stability and status quo. e.g catholic church forbids divorce, abortion and artificial contraception, and religions uphold a patriarchal domestic division of labour.

Weber:Religion as a force for change

Calvinism brung major social change, with the emergence of modern capitalism in 16th and 17th century northen europe. Modern capitalism based on rational pursuit of prodit for its own sake, rather than consumption. (The spirit of capitalism). Calvinist beliefs:

Predestination - God has already decided which souls will be saved.

Divine transcendence - God so far above that no one could claim to know his will. So had salvation panic, didnt know how to earn their salvation as they didnt know.

Wordly ascticism - their religious vocation/calling is to glorify gods name in their work(occupation), and idleness was a sin to them, and their wealth coped their salvation panic, and their wealth was reinvested to them, as they didnt spend it on luxuries, bringing modern capitalism.

H:Tawney argued technological changes caused capitalism, not calvinism.

Religion and social protest:Bruce(The American Civil Rights movement)

Black civil rights movement 1950s-1960s was religiously motivated, wanting to end segregation. Black clergy was backbone, Martin Luther King gave support and moral legitmacy to civil rights activists, with churces being a sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and also offered a sense of unity in a state of oppression. They shamed whites into changing the law through their shared christian values of equality. Religion was an ideological resource.

Religion and social protest:Bruce(Ways in rich religious organisations can bring social change)

Take the moral highground - black clergy pointed hypocrisy of white clergy who preached ‘love they neighbour’.

Channelling dissent - funeral of MLK was a rallying point for civil rights.

Acting as honest broker - Churches can provide context for negotiating change as they are respected from both sides and seen as above politics.

The new christian right:Bruce(Failed social change)

Politically and morally conservative protestant fundementalist movement, in 1960s, aiming to liberate American society. Campaigned for traditional values, such as no homosexuality, divorce, abortion illegal, but didnt work as lacked support and its campaigners couldnt cooperate with people.

Marxism,religion and change

Can sometimes be a force for social change(dual character, not always a smoke screen), as religion has relative autonomy, being separate from the economic base of society. Engels - can challenge status quo, and encourage social change e/g encouraging liberation from slavery.

Marxism,religion and change:Bloch(Principle of hope)

Religion has dual character, Accepts it inhibits change but can inspire protest and rebellion. Religion contains our dreams of a better life, specifically images of utopia(the perfect world). Can help ppl see what needs to be changed in the world, which if combined with politcs can bring social change.

Marxism,religion and change:Liberation theology

Catholic church, Latin America, end of 1960s, with strong commitment to poor and opposition to military dictatorships., trying to end poverty, human rights abuses following military take-overs. A growing commitment from priests to an ideology that supported poor drove it, as they developed ‘base communities’ to support and help workers, and opening literacy programs to educate poor ppl. 

H:1980s. pope john paul II condemned it as it resembled marxism. 

Marxism,religion and change(Gramsci:religion and hegemony)

The way that ruling class use ideological domination such as religiont o maintain control. As hegemony is established, ruling class can rely on the rest to onsent to their rule, leaving out a need for coercion. e.g 1920s italy, immense conservative power of catholic chuch in helping to win support for Mussolinis fascist regime.

H:organic intellectuals(educators, organisers and leaders) can use religion to inspire change, helping workers see the situation they are in and support them in seeing a fairer, nicer world, causing revolution.

Marxism,religion and change(Billings applying Gramscis ideas)

Class struggle between w/c miners and textile workers in kentucy 1920s-1930s, with miners being more militant, wanting recognition for their union and better conditions, while textile workers accepting status quo. Differences can be understood in role of hegemony:

Leadership - Miners had leaders who were organic intellectuals, who led unions.

Organisation - Able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise.

Support - Kept morale high with supportive sermons, prayers, singing.

Religion can play good oppositional role.