Neo-Marxist views on religion

Who argues that religion has a ‘dual character’?

Engels

What is a ‘dual character’ of religion?

Religion has two different purposes. It can, as traditional Marxists believe, promote the status quo and disguise inequality, but it can also be used to challenge inequality in some circumstances

What did Bloch argue and what is the ‘principle of hope’?

Bloch argues that religion can promote inequality, but that it can also inspire protest and rebellion, by offering what he calls the ‘principle of hope’ – or ideas about what an ideal world would look like, which helps people to see what needs to change to make the world more equal.   

What is Liberation theology?

A movement that emerged in the Catholic Church in Latin America at the end of the 1960s, in a time and place blighted by extreme poverty and military dictatorships, which LT strongly opposed. This movement challenged the status quo of the Catholic Church, which had traditionally served the interests of the upper classes, and was highly conservative, and was due to deepening poverty in Latin America and a commitment to bring about change for the poorest people

What did Catholic priests do to help the poor?

Priests helped the poor create support groups called ‘base communities’ and helped them to fight oppression with support from the church, as well as educating the poor and raising awareness about these inequalities.

What does Maduro argue about Liberation Theology?

Maduro (1982) argues that religious ideas radicalised members of the Catholic clergy in defence of peasants, meaning religion acted as a revolutionary force. This led many other Neo-Marxists also to question whether religion also perpetuates class inequalities.

How can we criticise Liberation theology?

Nonetheless, the argument that religion can bring about social change does depend on how social change is defined – LT challenged dictatorship and extreme poverty, but did not challenge capitalism.  

Why has Pentecostalism challenged Liberation Theology?

Recently, liberation theology has been challenged by Pentecostalism (a Christian denomination) which Lehmann (1996) argues provides a conservative solution to poverty (option for individuals to pull themselves from poverty in the private sphere of family and church), whereas liberation theology offered a more radical solution led by outsiders (clergy) working on behalf of the poor for collective improvement.  

What is hegemony?

the ideological domination of the ruling class, and acceptance of this by the working class

How does Gramsci argue that religion can challenge hegemony?

He argues many forms of religion can help workers see through ruling-class hegemony to understand what a fairer world could look like – and that the clergy can work as educators, leaders and organisers to help challenge the status quo.

What example does Billings use for religion challenging hegemony?

For example, Billings found a group of evangelical Protestant coal miners in Kentucky benefitted from leadership, organisation and support from their church and clergy when challenging unfair working conditions and hegemony, showing religion can be used to oppose the ruling class ideology too.  

According to Bruce, how did the Civil Rights movement achieve change?

American civil rights movement

• describing the black clergy as the backbone of the movement. This was led by Dr Martin Luther King (who was a preacher), and the movement were able to shame whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared Christian values.

What four ways did religion help bring about change?

1. Taking the moral high group – highlighted hypocrisy  

2. Channelling dissent – eg funeral of Martin Luther King 

3. Acting as an honest broker – negotiating point, neutral 

4. Mobilising public opinion – across the whole of America  

Who argue the New Christian Right? What do they believe? 

a group of fundamentalist Christians who want to make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal, to take America ‘back to God.’

What sociologist argues why the New Christian Right has failed to bring change, and why?

Bruce.

• has failed as a movement for change due to campaigners not cooperating with others with different beliefs, and lacking widespread support from wider society. It is in conflict with the democratic and liberal values of American society, whereas the Civil Rights movement did.