force of social change

• Weber: calvinism

  Importance of moral living & rewards of following rules
• Weber: pre-destination

  The belief that there are people who have been chosen by God as sacred
• Weber: theodicy

  Deals with how belief systems work
• Weber: protestants


  Separated from catholic, more simple
• Weber: ascetic ideal


  Frugal lifestyle, no pleasures or luxuries
• Weber: calvinism & capitalism

  Calvinism created capitalism - believed that only some could go to heaven - separates people.
• Weber: protestant on heaven


  Only certain people can get into heaven, God has already chosen who will be saved. Work hard to prove they can be saved.
• Weber: ascetic life & capitalism

  Ascetic life grows capitalism as the wealth is being given to the church, it is not being spent on individuals and keeps the wealth in the church.
• Weber: Hiduism & Confucianism

  -also ascetic but focus on spiritual world, not materialistic

  -discourages the growth of capitalism
• Weber: AO3

  -doesn't explain why some countries with calvinists did not develop as fast as others

  -capitalism is caused by many things, religion is only a small part of this

  -first study to show religion as social change
• example - religion as social change: Black civil rights campaign 1960s


  -fought against racism & segregation

  -reflect methodist ideologies

  -churches motivated members to oppose racism & segregation

  -less segregation, less racism
• example - religion as social change: Northern Ireland


  -troubles = difficulties between catholics & protestants

  -both groups had protests

  -Good Friday agreement = ceasefire

  -religion was used to create social change
• religious fundamentalism

  -idea that the exact word of religious text is correct

  -religious militancy where true believers think they're right & everyone else is wrong

  -radicalise others

  -stop erosion of religious identity

  -need to return to the original beliefs

  -don't like westernisation

  -avoid contact with people who disagree with them

  -Christian: USA. Pat Robertson: outlines his view of what America should be e.g., no abortion. George Bush: best hope for poor is prayer, not a welfare state

  -Islamic: the leader thought past leaders ignored the Divine law. Against westernisation & secularisation
• Bruce (2008)

  Fundamentalists: interpret the texts to be literal; hostile & intolerant to others; us vs them mentality; desire to change society so it alines with their view
• example - Westboro baptist church

  -us vs them

  -sect

  -want to go back to traditional views

  -world rejecting

  -high commitment

  -monopoly of truth