RELIGION AND SOCIAL CHANGE

What are the two different views on the role of religion?

conservative force or a force for social change

Who favours the idea that religion is a conservative force?

functionalists or marxists

Who favours the idea that religion is a force for social change?

Weber

What does the idea that religion is a conservative force mean?

religion is traditional and upholds traditional customs and beliefs to how society should be organised, it functions to conserve or preserve the status qu

What kind of Marxist is Gramsci?

technically no-marxist (despite being alive in the 1930s/40s) as not a part of the original marxist movement

How can religion be seen t be a conservative force in regards to women?

women often excluded from higher positions, segregation of men and women, Islam has a patriachal structure (eg women barred from work in Afghanistan)

What do the new christian right in the USA believe in?

hold traditional views regarding gender roles, anti abortion, anti LGBTQ,

What is an example of the impact of the New Christian Right recently?

the overturning of Roe Vs Wade

What do functionalists think is religion’s conservative function?

religion and consensus, maintains social stability, social solidarity and value consensus, outlet for stress that may otherwise disrupt society

What do marxists think is religion’s conservative function?

religion and capitalism, religion prevents social change in the interests of the powerful, legitimates and reproduces inequality and disguises exploitation

What do feminists think is religion’s conservative function?

religion and patriachy, religion is an ideology that legitimises patriachal power and maintains women’s subordination

What does Engels say about religion bringing about social change?

it can be a useful tool for bringing about religious changes for the following reasons:

• few rulers have tried to prevent mass participation in religion (however doesn’t consider less common religions, eg Edward I and the expulsion of the Jews in 1290)

• religious leaders are more likely to notice and act upon exploitation, oppression and inequality because of their religious education (e liberation theology)

• religious leaders are not easily oppressed as they may hold special or sacred places in their societies and are not easily assassinated or imprisoned (but not impossible, eg Becket)

What is a theodicy?

a religious idea that explains fundamental questions about the nature of existence

What is an example of a theodicy (question form)?

How do we make sense of suffering? Why does God allow poverty to occur?

What does Berger (1967) say about theodicies?

uses the metaphor of the sacred canopy to refer to the different religious theodicies that enable people to make sense of and come to terms with the world (may encourage change in society)

What beliefs about afterlife 

What are some more specific examples of theodicies?

• In many western religions the idea that suffering in this life will bring rewards in the next

• Hinduism and reincarnation - living the right way now will bring rewards in the next life

• Fate, as some people believe there is nothing they can do, they try and highlight God’s favour

• Toraot cards and astrology encourage people to believe that Fate does exist and nothing can be done to change it

When does Weber puplish his ideas on calvinism?

1905

What is Weber’s study on Calvinism called?

Calvinism and the Protestant work ethic

What does Capitalism have an elective affinity (unconscious similarity) to?

Calvinism

Where was Calvinism Prominent?

Scotland

What is Weber’s study on Calvinism?

Calvinists believe that God has predetermined which souls will be saved (the elect) and there is nothing that can be done to change this which causes salvation anxiety. You will never find out where you will go as God is Omnipotent and Omniscient which can create loneliness which when combined with Predestination creates a salvation panic. To cope with this, they aim to live a life like Jesus (abstinent, hardworking and simple), this creates the idea that idleness is a sin, and thus makes  successful businesses. As they lead frugal lives, this money then gets reinvested in the business - CAPITALISM

How does Hinduism and Confucianism reinforce Weber’s study on Calvinism?

other societies had higher rates of economic growth but did not adopt modern capitalism, China and India for example, they promote good deeds and an afterlife but lacked the material drive of the Calvinists

What have some commentators suggested about Weber’s theory and colonialism?

slavery, colonialism and piracy were more important in creating Capitalism

What is Parkin’s critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

capitalism was late to develop in Capitalism despite the prominence of Calvinism

What is Maxists critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

capitalism predates calvinism, Tawney argues that it was technology that gave rise to Capitalism, then the Bourgeoisie adopted these ideas to maintain wealth

What is Bruce and Hamilton’s critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

Weber’s theory lacks validity as it is based on assumption, not evidence

What is Kautsky’s critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

Weber overestimates ideas and underestimates the economic factors

What is Jones’ critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

surprising relevance for contemporary society, can see evidence in modern day society

What are the two highly calvinist countries hat failed to industrialise quickly?

Scotland and Norway

What is Marshall’s critique of Weber’s view on Calvinism?

Weber did not claim that Calvinism caused Capitalism, only that it was a major contributor

What does Bruce compare?

the role of religiously inspired protest movements in the USA

How was the civil rights movement religious?

MLK was a preacher and used religious teachings to promote peace and equality, as well as legitimating the cause

What does Bruce say about the civil rights movement?

it was religiously motivated social change, that was a success (segregation outlawed in 1964) that involved direct action. The black clergy played a major role, eg MLK which appealed to the common christian values of equality

What are the 4 ways that Bruce argues that Religion is an ideological resource?

1) Channels dissent

2) Acts as an honest Broker

3) Mobilize public opinion

4) Takes the moral high groun

What is an evaluation point for religion being an ideological resource?

Can’t always be an honest broker as there is an extra layer of religious bias, also often upper class clergy who sympathise with other upper class clergy

Who are the New christian right?

Protestant fundamentalists, opposition to liberating society, want to take America ‘back to God’, want traditional family role and ban abortion, homosexuality and ban SRE in education

How have the New Christian Rights achieved their goals?

campaigns increased their profile since the 1970s, used televangelists to make converts and recruit new members (bringing religion from the public sphere to the private), links with the republican party new moral majority formed as a pressure group

How does Bruce argue that the NCR were unsuccessful?

failed movement for social change as they didn;t connect with mainstream beliefs about democracy, equality and religious freedom(as CRM did)

How can it be argued that the NCR have been succesful?

were a minority but much more now Trump has been elected, overturned Roe V Wade

How do Marxists (mostly Engels) recognise that religion has relative autonomy, how is this partially untrue in the UK?

religion can be partially indpendent from the economic base, so a force for change as well as stability, however in the UK, church is linked to the state (CofE)

What does Bloch say about religion and rebellion?

it can inspire protest and rebellion as religion is an expression of the ‘principal hope;, can cast a view of a better workd and how this can be achieved (political organisations leading to social change?

What viewpoint in Bloch?

Marxist

What is liberation theology?

emerged in the 1960s, catholic church, opposition to military dictatorships and commitment to helping the poor in Latin America, big move away for the church from supporting elites and accepting poverty, traditionally RC are elite and ornate

Why did liberation theology arise (3 reasons)?

1) Deepening rural poverty

2) Human rights abuses by military dicatortorships

3) commitment of priests to ideology that supported HR and the poor

Who was Oscar Romero?

Archbishop, initially very conservative but became increasingly angered by goverment, eg use of death squads, spoke out against this and set up platforms to help, assassinated in 1985

How did liberation theology help?

harboured freedom fighters, developed literacy programmes, took the sides of the oppressed and mobilised support

What was the church’s official line on liberation theology in the 1980s?

it changed and condemned it on the grounds that it resembled Marxism, priests were supposed to concentrate on pastoral struggles, not political ones, the movement has since lost influence, most countries are now democracies and catholicism has vecome more conservative, still defends democracy and HR

What does O’Toole say about Marxists and religion?

Marxists have undoubtedly recognised the active role that may be played by religion in effecting revolutionary social change

What do Neo-Marxists think about religion?

talk about the apparent independence of cultural institutions or relative autonomy, more effective as the ruling class members are not directly involved

What does Antonio Gramsci say?

he was aware that the church was supporting ruling class interests, he did not believe this to be inevitable, argued that religious beliefs and practices could develop that would support and guide challenges to the ruling class becuase the church, like other cultural institutions was not dierectly under there control

What does Maduro say about liberation theology?

religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change, the religious ideas radicalised c;ergy in the fight for the peasants and the workers. He suggested that in the situation where there was no other outlet for grievances that the clergy could provide guidance for the oppressed in their struggle with the dominant group

What does Lowry say about liberation theology?

questions Marx’s view that religion always legitimises social inequality

What do a small minority of marxists say about liberation theology?

disagree that it brings about social change, depends on how you define social change

What is a Millerian movement an example of?

desire to change things on earth at present and bring about the kingdom of God

What do Millenarain movements belive in, according to Worsley?

expect the immanent transformation of this world by supernatural means, this group will be saved on earth and live in a Utopia

Where were Millanrian movements popular?

poor exploited groups, notably in colonies as a precursor to overthrowing colonial rule

What do Millenerian movements use?

traditional beliefs, ideas and images with christianity, united tribal movements and became mass movements

What do Millenerian movements represent for Marxists?

first awakening of the Proleterian self consciousness

What is Gramsci’s idea surrounding Hegemony?

the way that the RC use ideas to control the WC (hegemony and in this case religion), eg Catholic church helped win support for Mussolini’s fascist regime

What is Gramsci’s idea surrounding counter-hegemony?

hegemony isn’t always guaranteed, WC can develop an alternative vision or counter-hegemony, religion has a dual culture that can challenge as well as support the ruling class, can also offer a vision of what can be and leaders can support WC organisations, for example Trade Unions

What is the argument against leaders supporting Trade Unions?

may only exist due to popular pressure of the people, not due to genuine goodwill

How does Gramsci think that counter hegemony’s would be led by?

organic individuals

When was Billing’s study occuring, what was the social context?

1931/31 strike in Kentucky, the great depression

What example does Billings use to discuss religion and class conflict?

coal miners and textile workers, tow very similar groups both suffering from exploitation, the coal miners struggled for both recognition of their trade unions and pushed for social change due to the religious environment

Why does Billing’s argue that coal miners made progress whereas the textile workers didn’t?

educated by organic individuals, and some preachers they learnt right from wrong and pressed for change and equality, religious activities (eg hymns) also kept miners spirits high when fighting for change

What is an evaluation point for Billings?

more of a male/female divide, could be a social split or misogynistic based off of gende

How can religions be seen to be reactionary?

using religion to turn the clock back or avoid westernisation, religions oppose the undesirable state of modern society (eg christian or Islamic fundamentalists), caused by an increasingly globalised society

What do gaddafi and Libya say about Islam and Westernization?

Iran and Afghanistan are obvious recent examples but are not the only ones

What does Almond say about Islam and Westernisation?

defined fundamentalism as a  ‘pattern of religious militantcy’ and led by ‘self styled true belivers’

What does Giddens say about Islam and westernisation?

globalisation has caused high levels of insecurity, so religion with clear rules has proved to be very attractive

What are fundamentalist religions?

religious texts are taken entirely literally and provide a strict set of rules which people have to live by, which often clashes with contemporary society, highly conservative yet through this often propose significant social change

What are the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist church?

• An offshoot of Calvinism 'hyper Calvinism'​

• They condone tragedies such as 9/11 and the Sandy Hook shooting as God's retribution for Sin(in particular homosexuality)​

• In 2005 church members began picketing thefunerals of U.S. soldiers killed inthe Iraq and Afghanistan wars, carrying such signs as “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” and “GodHates the U.S.”​

• The church first attracted attention throughout the US in October 1998 when it picketed the funeral of Mathew Shephard, a gay college student from Wyoming whose murder was widely condemned as a hate crime.

What do the Westboro Baptist church want from society?

Although their specific plans are unclear, they clearly disagree with homosexuality in society and want people to believe that tragedies are a result of God’s retribution.

Who are the Westboro Baptist church?

• The Westboro Baptist Church, is a church in Topeka, Kansas,that became well known for its opposition to homosexuality andthe gay rights movement, as expressed on picket signs carried bychurch members at funerals and other events.​

• Founded by Fred Phelps (who died in 2014), consists of roughly70 members, most of whom are blood relatives of the Phelps​

• Sees itself as an 'old school' Baptist church, but remainsunaffiliated with any organized denomination

What are the methods of Westboro Baptist church?

• Often consists of picketing outside funerals, notably of warveterans​

• More recently, they have begun picketing at Colleges in America​

• They have also been involved in a legal battle (Snyder V Phelps) inwhich it was ruled in their favour. They were taken to court by thefamily of a deceased soldier, whose funeral had been picketed bythe Church

What does Samuel P Huntingdon Propose?

The ‘clash of civilisations’ thesis that people’s cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post- cold war world, thus clashes will be between cultures not countries (western vs Islamic)

What do Critics of Huntingdon propose?

this view is unfair to the majority of religious believers and ignores conflicts within ‘civilisations’ such as Catholic and Protestant (in Ireland)

What do Norris and Inglehart think about globalisation and social chamge impacting religion?

argue that people turn to religion as they feel increasingly insecure due to the fact people are more aware of the dangers in society, this is known as the Existential security theory

How has the growth of western capitalism impacted religion?

promotes values of scientific and ational thought in working processes

WHat ddoes Leger say about globalisation and religion?

has led to spiritual shopping as people pick and mix aspets of religion as they please

What does bruce say about religion and globalisation?

new migrants look for the familiar (beliefs) within the unfamiliar

Which type of sociologists often discuss globalisation?

postmodernists

What is the 2020 example of differing beliefs within religion?

an episcopal bishop in upstate new york was dismissed for prohibiting same sex marriage within his diocese

ow has multiculturism affected religion?

many people with dievrse religios backgrounds now live in the same area without a single unifying religion

How has the methodist church been significant in showing hw social change can foster new religions?

it was formed partly as a result of the industrial revolution, as people lost their communities as a result of migratong from the coutry to towns. The methodist meetings provided a sense of community which appealed to the working classs?

What are the three new religious organisationsthat can spring up due to social chnage according to Wallis (1984)?

1) World rejecting movements, requiring total commitment and cutting themselves off from society (eg unification church)

2) World affirming movements - more like self help or therapy groups, tolerant of other religions. (eg transcendental methodists)

3) World accomodating movements which are more traditionally religious (eg pentecostalism)

According to Wallis, what are the three reasons why new religious groups arise due to social change?

1) Marginality - inequality, immigration and racism may amrganilise groups si new movements help people to come to terms with this. Weber calls it the theodicy of dispivilige

2) relative deprivation - why people from white middle class backgrounds may join, as they see themselves as deprived in comparison to their peers

3) Modernity and post modernity - aliebation of capitalism, increasing bureacracy and disillusionment with work creating uncertainty, thus people want more choice with how they construct their identity