Religion and social change

How can religion be seen as a conservative force?

In the sense of being traditional- defending traditional customs, institutions, moral views, roles etc it upholds traditional beliefs about how society should be oragnsied

It functions to conserve or preserve things as they are. It stabilises society and maintains the status quo

Describe religion's beliefs

Most have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many of them oppose changes that would allow individuals more freedom in personal and sexual changes. For example the Catholic Church forbids divorce, abortion and artificial contraception

Similarly most religions uphold family values and often favour a traditional patriarchal domestic division of labour. For example the belief that the man should be the head of the family

Traditional conservative values also pre dominate in non Christian religions such as Hinduism endorses male domestic authority

Describe religion's functions

religion and consensus- functionalists see religion as a conservative force as it functions to maintain social stability and prevent society from disintegrating. For example it promotes social solidarity by creating value consensus thus reducing the likelihood of society collapsing

By contrasts Marxists and feminists see religion as an ideology that supports the existing social structure and acts as a means of control creating stability in the interests of the powerful maintaining the status quo

Marx sees religion as a conservative ideology that prevents social change by disguising exploitation and inequality creating false consciousness in the w/c and reverting a revolution

Feminists see religion as a conservative force as it acts as an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power

Describe Weber- religion as a force for change

Argues that Calvinism- a form of Protestantism founded during the reformation

Calvinist beliefs: predestination

Calvin preached that God had already decided who would enter the Kingdom of Heaven before you are born and that his decision is final and unchangeable. Those who are chosen ad known ad the 'Elect'

Calvinist beliefs: divine transcendence

God was so great and incomparable to any human that no one could know his will. This included the church and its priests. Combined with the doctrine of predestination this created a salvation panic . They could not know whether they had been chosen to be saved and they couldn't do anything to learn their salvation

Calvinist beliefs : asceticism

This refers to abstinence, self-discipline and self-denial. For example, monks lead an ascetic existence, refraining from luxury, wearing simple clothes and avoiding excess in order to devote themselves to God and a life of prayer.

Describe Calvinism and their work ethic

Max Weber argued that Calvinist beliefs (a Protestant sect) played a key role in the development of modern capitalism through their religious values and work ethic:

1. Religious Calling (Vocation)

• Calvinists believed in a "calling" to serve God through constant, disciplined, and methodical work in everyday life — not through isolation in a monastery.

• This is called "this-worldly asceticism" (working hard in the material world for spiritual reasons).

• Work was seen as a religious duty, not a path to material gain.

2. Ascetic Lifestyle

• Calvinists avoided luxury, worked long hours, and practised strict self-discipline.

• Idleness was a sin — reflected in Benjamin Franklin's quote: "Lose no time; be always employed in something useful."

3. Psychological Impact

• Wealth was interpreted as a sign of God's favour, helping them cope with salvation panic (anxiety over whether they were chosen for heaven).

• This conflicted with their belief that God's will is unknowable, but still reassured them.

4. Economic Consequences

• Their work ethic led to systematic and rational wealth accumulation.

• Instead of spending on luxuries, they reinvested in business, leading to growth and more profit — a cycle.

• According to Weber, this was the birth of modern capitalism: where money is accumulated for its own sake, not for consumption

Describe Hinduism

Weber's Causal View

• Weber did not argue that Calvinism caused capitalism alone.

• Instead, Calvinism was one of many contributing factors.

• Other factors like natural resources, trade, urbanisation, and law were also essential for the rise of capitalism.

2. Comparative Analysis - Why Capitalism Didn't Develop Elsewhere

Weber studied why other advanced societies (e.g. ancient China and India) did not develop capitalism, despite being economically ahead of Europe in earlier centuries.

3. Hinduism (India)

• Hinduism, like Calvinism, was ascetic (promoted self-discipline and renunciation).

• However, it was other-worldly - focused on the spiritual rather than the material world.

• This turned believers away from engaging with the material world, preventing the rise of capitalism.

Describe Confucianism

Confucianism (China)

• Confucianism was this-worldly (focused on social order and harmony in this life).

• But it lacked asceticism - it didn't promote the self-denial and disciplined work ethic needed for capitalism.

• It discouraged the rational pursuit of wealth.

5. Conclusion: Calvinism Was Unique

• According to Weber, Calvinism uniquely combined:

• Asceticism (self-discipline)

• This-worldly orientation (focus on life in the material world)

• This combination created the "spirit of capitalism" - the cultural and religious foundation that enabled modern capitalism to emerge in Europe.

Evaluation of Calvinism

Weber's studies were largely qualitative - opinion

based with no statistical evidence.

• Kautsky (1927) argues Weber overestimates the

impact of ideas and underestimates economic factors

in bringing about capitalism. He argued that in fact capitalism preceded rather than followed Calvinism

• Tawney (1926) believes that technological

developments gave rise to capitalism instead (despite

China and India contradicting this)

Weber has also be criticised as capitalism didn't develop in every country where there were Calvinist. such as Scotland had a large calvanist population but were slow to develop capitalism. However webarians such as Marshall argue that this was due to a lack of investment capital and skilled labour- supporting Weber point in how both material and cultural are needed for capitalism to emerge

Describe the American civil rights movement

Religion as a Force for Social Change

• Steve Bruce uses the Black civil rights movement in 1950s-60s America as an example of religiously motivated social change.

• Although slavery was abolished in 1865, racial segregation and denial of legal and political rights for Black Americans persisted, especially in Southern states.

2. Role of Direct Action

• The movement began in 1955 with Rosa Parks' protest.

• Tactics included marches, boycotts, and demonstrations.

• In 1964, legal segregation was outlawed.

3. The Role of the Black Church

• Bruce highlights the Black clergy (especially Dr Martin Luther King) as central to the movement.

• Churches offered:

• Moral legitimacy to the cause

• Meeting places and sanctuary from violence

• Unity through rituals like prayer and hymn singing

• Religion helped activists appeal to Christian values of equality, which shamed White Americans into supporting legal change.

How does Bruce see religion as an ideological resource

Steve Bruce uses the civil rights movement as an example of how religion can contribute to social change. He identifies four key ways religion supported the movement:

1. Taking the moral high ground - Black clergy exposed the hypocrisy of White clergy by highlighting contradictions between Christian values (e.g., "love thy neighbour") and racial segregation.

2. Channelling dissent - Religion offered a way to express political protest. For example, Martin Luther King's funeral served as a significant rallying point for the civil rights cause.

3. Acting as honest broker - Churches were seen as neutral, respected institutions that could mediate and negotiate between conflicting sides, being perceived as above "mere politics".

4. Mobilising public opinion - Black churches in the South helped gather national support for civil rights, using religious platforms to influence wider society.

What was the new Christian right

Politically and morally conservative, Protestant fundamentalist movement. It has gained prominence since the 1960s due to its opposition to the liberalising of American society

What were the aims of the NCR and why it failed

Aims of the NCR:

• Seeks to return America to traditional Christian values ("back to God").

• Opposes abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, divorce, and sex education.

• Promotes creationism (literal biblical account of creation).

• Strongly linked to the Republican Party and uses televangelism and media to campaign and recruit.

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Why the NCR Has Failed (Bruce):

1. Inability to Cooperate:

• NCR struggles to work with other religious groups, even those who share similar views (e.g. on abortion), due to theological and ideological differences.

2. Lack of Widespread Support:

• Many Americans support liberal values like democracy, freedom, and the separation of church and state.

• Most Americans are tolerant of personal lifestyle choices even if they morally disapprove.

3. Conflict with Wider Society's Values:

• NCR's demand for conformity to strict religious morals is incompatible with democratic principles and pluralism in U.S. society.

• Bruce argues this is an impossible demand in a mature democracy.

4. Inconsistency with Mainstream Beliefs:

• Unlike the civil rights movement, which aligned with values like equality and freedom, the NCR's goals do not resonate with dominant societal values.

Comparison on ghe NCR and civil rights movement

Civil Rights Movement succeeded because:

• It aligned with mainstream democratic values.

• It mobilised broad-based support and moral legitimacy.

• NCR failed because:

• It attempted to impose religious values not shared by the wider population.