Social change

• Weber - Social change

  • Calvinism brought change of modern capitalism 'spirit of capitalism'
  • Predestination: God has predetermined if your soul will be saved and if you're part of the 'elect'
  • Divine transcendence: God is beyond this world and no one knows his will
  • Asceticism: self-discipline, abstinence (this worldly/other worldly)
• Ascetcism

  • Other worldly - renouncing everyday life by joining a convent or monastery
  • This worldly - we were put on earth to glorify God's name through our work
• Weber - Evaluations

  Kautsky

  • Capitalism prceeded Calvinism

  Tawney

  • Technological change birthed capitalism
• American Civil Rights Movement

  Bruce

  • End to racial segregation in America in 1950s/1960s
  • Begun with Rosa Parks in 1955 who resisted to move seat on a bus - this led to protests and marches
  • Dr Martin Luther King expressed political dissent
  • Black clergy backbone of the movement
  • Churches provided meeting places and sanctuary from threat of violence from the White people
  • Appealed to the White people through shared Christian values 'love thy neighbour'
• New Christian Right

  • Protestant fundamentalist movement
  • Aimed to make abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal (very traditional)
  • Church owned TV stations - televangelism to raise funds and broadcast their aims

  Bruce

  • They were met with opposition for standing against freedom of choice
  • Struggled to cooperate with other religious groups
• Bloch - Dual character

  • Recognises positive and negative influence on social change
  • It's and expression of 'the principle of hope' - dreams of a better life that contains an image of utopia
  • The vision combined with political organisation can bring social change
• Liberation Theology

  • Catholic Church in Latin America 1960s
  • Committed to poor and opposition to military groups
  • Priests helped the poor to establish support groups 'base communities' - helped workers and peasants fight oppression under the protection of the church
  • Developed literacy programmes - educating the poor
• Pentecostal challenge

  Lehmann

  • Contrast to liberation theology
  • Offers 'option of the poor' - individuals to pull themselves out of poverty through own efforts and support by church pastors
  • Individual self-improvement through the private sphere of the family and church
• Gramsci - Religion and hegemony

  • Hegemony - ideological domination
  • Ruling class maintain their control over society through ideas
  • Ruling class can rely on popular consent of their rule
  • Religion has a dual character where it can challenge and support the ruling class