beliefs in society topic 2

how was the black clergy successful in the civil rights movement? (steve bruce)

• they played a decisive role

• they gave support and moral legitimacy to civil right activists

• they were able to shame whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared christian values of equality

• they reached a wide audience outside southern states and gained national support

what are four ways religious organisations can support and contribute to social change?

• taking moral high ground

• channelling dissent

• acting as honest broker

• mobilising public opinion

what does bruce suggest that the key to achieving change through religion?

• being able to integrate into the population by promoting shared liberal values

• not to incite conflict to be successful in achieving change

what did weber identify?

• calvinists reinvested surplus and capitalism grew

• their beliefs were the cause of capitalism

explain predestination (weber)

• god has predetermined which souls will be saved

• the individual can do nothing to change this

• salvation anxiety/panic is not knowing if heaven or hell awaited

explain divine transcendence (weber)

• see god as completely separate unknowable and distant ( gives rise to loneliness)

• because believers could not gain direct assurance of their salvation , they sought indirect signs through disciplined living and economic activity

• this combined with predestination created what weber refers to as salvation panic

explain asceticism (weber)

• a lifestyle of strict self denial and rejection of worldly luxuries

• instead of consuming wealth calvinists reinvested it fuelling growth of capital

• live a simple life as jesus did

explain the idea of vocation or calling

• gave ordinary work a religious significance making labour itself a duty to God

• together these beliefs created what weber called the spirit of capitalism , a culture of rational calculation, efficiency and disciplined pursuit of profit

• allowed calvinists to cope with their salvation panic

what did the new christian right want?

to bring back traditional values and seek to take america back to god , make abortion divorce and homosexuality illlegal

what do neo marxists say ?

religion can have relative autonomy (they can be partly independent from the capitalism base) and can be used for social change

what do marxists say?

religion is an entirely conservative ideology , capitalist system alienates workers and pushes them towards religion , religion is owned by capitalism

what does ernst bloch say?

• religion has a dual character ( accepts that religion often inhibits change but argues that it can also inspire protest and rebellion leading to social change)

• religion is the ‘principle of hope’ as it provides images of a utopia that can deceive people (eg afterlife) but can also inspire people to create a better world

name factors of the liberation theology

• christian idea that god has power to change unjust things

• people have right to challenge abusers of power

• oscar romero spoke out against problems in el salvador , used churches facefront for social change and was assassinated

explain the concepts gramsci came up with

• gramsci came up with hegemony to describe how the ruling class uses ideological control through religion to win people’s agreement

• religion can provide a counter hegemony offering ideas and actions that challenge this control and encourage resistance

give 2 historical examples of how religion has a dual character

• catholic leaders who helped anti apartheid struggle in south africa

• black churches that supported the US civil rights movement

what was the aim of the liberation theory?

to help the poor by following jesus example of giving special care and priority to people in poverty using church to challenge injustice

what three factors led to liberation theory?

• rural poverty was deepening

• slums in the cities were expanding

• human tights abuses were widespread under brutal military government

how does liberation theory show religion can be a revolutionary force ?

• it provides moral courage

• provides leadership

• provides a network for action that can bring real social change

why did the roman catholic church attitude change towards liberation theory ?

because the pope john paul was warned that it was becoming too political and too close to marxism

explain the difference between liberation theory and pentecostalism

• LT offers option for the poor

• pentecostalism option of the poor (focused on personal salvation and strict moral life , individual change and self discipline)