Religon as a force for change

Gramsci (Neo-Marxist)

Religion can sometimes be a focus for counter-hegemony (domination)- a set of ideas providing a basis for challenges by the poor to the power of the ruling class ideology

Religion can have some ‘relative autonomy’ in that it can have independence from the interests of the ruling class (sometimes challenging oppression)

Liberation theology (Neo-Marxist)

Demonstrated how Catholic priests in South America in the 1960’s and 1970’s played roles in fighting against military dictatorships, poverty and exploitation

Catholic priests supported and encouraged the poor to overthrow governments that oppressed and exploited them

Otto Maduro (Neo-Marxist)

Argues that catholicism acts as a ‘conservative force’

He started supporting people against the bourgeoisie because that’s what Jesus would have done

Weber (Calvinism)

He argued that religon can help shape social change

He looked at the role of religon shaping social change in some parts of the world

E.g Eastern religions often discourage social change since they encourage believers to ‘accept their lot in life and to relax’ and seek spiritual harmony

Whereas in the West, religion often encourages believers to better themselves or in the case of ‘Calvinism’ to work hard to please God

Pre-destination- God decides where you go, either Heaven or Hell

Salvation panic- The scare that you won’t be saved by God

Calvinists helped to create capitalism and one feature of a capitalist society is the fall of religion

Bruce (P vs R)

Religion can act as a force for change and be both progressive and regressive

Progressive- Bringing about positive social change e.g Martin Luther King

Regressive- Reverting back to traditional or oppressive structures e.g the New Christian Right in America, that seek to use religion to revert society back to traditional values, particularly gender roles