Religion and social change

What does Weber say?

He talks about the Calvinist beliefs:

-their belief in predestination and Devine transcendence caused a salvation panic

-they also lives an ascetic (simple) life

-as they thought they couldn’t reach God , they thought that them being successful meant they were going to heaven and vice versa. Therefore, as they lived a simple life they didn’t spend the money they were making and reinvested it back into their business.

-This created a new form of capitalism brought by religion

Who criticises Weber and what do they say?

Kautsky: Weber overestimates the role of ideas and that capitalism preceded Calvinism

What evidence is there in the world that a means religion doesn’t bring change

Caste in India

What does Bruce say about religion and social change

-Civil rights movement: Black clergy used religion to shame white people into changing the law by appealing to shared Christian values. They channelled frustration from other black people and acted as an ‘honest broker’ -respected as part of the church

-The new Christian Right: failed movement that wanted to ‘ take America back to God’ , they were anti-abortion ,anti-gay, anti-science and pro-creationism (God created Earth) . They used televangelism to preach but failed due to difficulty in cooperation with other groups and USA is a mature democracy and cannot easily accept literal interpretations of the Bible.

What does Bloch say?

The principle of hope: religion provides dreams of a better life, fuelling social change by offering dreams of a more just society. This can become a driver for revolutionary action. Utopias can be useful.

-He sees religion as having a ‘dual character’ as it inhibits and inspires change

What is Liberation Theology

-Marxist ideas influenced religious leaders who saw Christianity as a force for social justice. It emphasises a commitment to the poor and the struggle against oppression of military dictatorships.

-Priests often took on roles in supporting revolutionary movements and aligning religion in the interest of the oppressed.

What does Casanova say?

Liberation theology played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy

What does Maduro say?

Religion can serve as a tool for the oppressed to resist economic and social exploitation using liberation theology.

What does Löwy say?

He questions the Marxist view that that religion always legitimises social inequality.

-Emphasises how liberation theology is both a religious and revolutionary movement, blending Marxist and Christian ideas to create a radical critique of capitalism.

What are Millennial movements and who talks about them?

Worsley- Millennial movements were people who believed that God would become imminent and there would be radical change in social order and salvation

-e.g. the Cargo Cults in Malaysia which believed in the second coming of Christ and when this didn’t happen this led to mass movements with some managing to overthrow colonial rule.

Engels- supports this and says that people received class consciousness when the miracle didn’t come

What does Gramsci talk about?

-Religion can serve as both an instrument of ruling-class dominance and a source of resistance

-Hegemony:the ruling class maintains power through culture and ideological means ,including religion

-However, religion can also enable “counter-hegemony” by helping the oppressed to challenge ruling class ideas.

-Religious leaders can become “organic intellectuals” helping the working class to develop a revolutionary consciousness.