2. Religion and Social Change

How may religion be viewed as a conservative force?

• Religion can be seen as being very traditional and conserving that

• Eg: traditional family values such as the man being the head of the house are included in the marriage ceremony as the women vows to “love, honour and obey” but the man only to “love and honour”.

• Functionalists say religion is preserving social stability by creating value consensus

• Marxists say religion legitimises class inequality and exploitation

• Feminists say religion acts as an ideology to legitimise patriarchal power

What did Weber say about Calvinist beliefs and the Protestant work ethic helping to bring about capitalism in the 16th century?

• People believed in predestination where the elect would go to Heaven and that this was already chosen

• Since God is divine and transcendent people were unable to know if they were part of the elect or not creating a salvation panic

• This caused people to live an ascetic lifestyle where they refrained from luxury and devoted themselves to God in prayer

• This caused Calvinists to work long hours as they believed it was part of their religious duty. They believed idleness was a sin.

Explain the 2 main impacts of Calvinism in society?

1. The wealth people accumulated through living an ascetic lifestyle helped them deal with their salvation panic as they saw their welath as a sign of God’s favour

2. They accumulated a lot of wealth allowing them to reinvest into the businesses growing capitalism today

How was Hinduism and Confucianism different to Calvinism?

Weber argued that Hinduism and Confucianism discouraged the development of capitalism because their beliefs promoted traditionalism rather than economic change.

• Hinduism emphasised the caste system and dharma (duty), encouraging people to accept their social position rather than pursue economic advancement. Beliefs in karma and reincarnation meant suffering was seen as deserved, reducing motivation for change or innovation.

• Confucianism focused on harmony, respect for tradition, and fulfilling social obligations. It valued family loyalty and stability over profit-seeking and risk-taking.

Weber argued that, unlike Calvinism, these religions did not promote a rational, disciplined work ethic aimed at systematic profit-making, which is why capitalism developed later in these societies.

Evaluate Webers ideas?

• Kautsky argues Weber overestimates the value of ideology in creating capitalism and underestimates economic factors. He says capitalism came before Calvinism

• Tawney says technological change caused capitalism

• Some places such as Scotland with many Calvinists were late to start capitalism

• UK has longest working hours in Europe

How did the black clergy help gain black rights in the American Civil Rights Movement and according to who?

• Bruce says black people were denied the same rights as other people eg: access to the same bus seats (Rosa Parks). Their Churches provided a sanctuary from the white violence

• Black clergy took the moral high ground by pointing out the hypocrisy of white clergy in the “love your neighbour” quote and it was a peaceful protest

• Churches can help to negociate change as they are often respected by both sides and seen as “above mere politics”.

• Black Churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across all America

Explain how Bruce says the New Christian Right has been a force for social change?

• Bruce says the New Christian Right is a fundamentalist group wanting to take America “back to God” by making homosexuality, abortion etc illegal

• It campaigns for the teaching of creationism and banning sex education lessons in schools

• The church used televangelism and the media to spread the message

Explain how Bruce says the New Christian Right hasn’t been a force for social change?

• Lacks widespread support as it is met with much opposition from people who stand for freedom of choice

• Bruce argues the New Christian Right failed because their values do not align with mainstream American values of democracy and freedom

What does Ernst Bloch say about religion and social change?

• He says religion has a dual character as religion often inhibits change but can sometimes inspire rebellion and protest.

• He describes religion as a “principle of hope” which contains out dreams of a better world (utopia). This may cause us to see what needs to be changed in our own world.

Explain how liberation theology can be a force for change in the world?

• Where priests decided to help the poor, also known as “base communities” by educating them, and helping them fight oppression. They developed literacy programmes.

• In 1970’s the priests were the only authoritative figure which spoke out when dictatorships used murder squads and torture to hold power.

• Casanova says it played an important part in resisting state terror and helping bring about democracy

What 2 things challenged liberation theology in creating social change?

1. When Pope John Paul II condemned liberation theology on the grounds that it resembled Marxism and said that priests should do more pastoral activities.

2. Pentecostalism helps the poor pull themselves out of poverty through their own efforts by encouraging individual self-improvement through individual self-improvement and the private sphere

What did Worsley say?

• Social change is brought about by millenarian movements which mobilised oppressed people and challenging existing power structures, opening the door to change.

• People remember the coming of Christ is going to happen so see their position as temporary and create collective identity and organisation so are more likely to resist, protest, or withdraw cooperation from those in power.

Explain Gramsci’s idea?

• He argues religion has a dual character

• While the ruling class can use religion to maintain control it is possible for the working class to develop an alternative vision

• The ruling class may help the working class see through hegemony by offering a vision of a better fairer world

• He says this is done by clergy who act as organic intellectuals which may support working class organisations such as trade unions

What is the example of organic intellectuals reducing hegemony?

• Billings compared the struggle of the coal miners and textile workers in Kentucky in the 1920’s and 30’s.

• He said the miners were more militant in their protest against bad working conditions whereas the textile workers accepted their status quo

• This is because the miners benefitted from the leadership of organic intellectuals, their organisation for holding meetings due to the clergy and the support the Church gave the miners keeping morale high.

• However, the textile workers were met with opposition by the local Church leaders so accepted their status quo