Religion as a force for social change

• what are the two roles of religion?

  conservative force

  force for social change
• How is Religion, conservative force?


  Conservative means keeping things the way they are these sociologists see religion as a force for stability and order. They may well favour, a functionalist or Marxist point of view.
• How is religion a force for social change?


  supporters of this position point to the role of religion in encouraging societies to change. They may well be influenced by writings of Weber.
• What are the two ways religion can be a conservative force?


  • It uphold traditional beliefs about how society should be organised, defending traditional customs, institutions, moral view roles
  • It’s stabilises society and maintains the status quo (Things as they are now) It’s functions to conserve or present things as they are
• Even though function lists, Marxist and feminists see the role of religion differently, all of them, argue that contributes to social stability?

  • functionalists -Solidarity and Integration
  • Marxists - dulling the pain of class, exploitation
  • Feminism - Uphold, patriarchy and traditional values
• Who is the sociologist that talks about religion as a force for social change and the protestant ethic and spirit of capitalism?

  Weber
• What does Weber say about religion as a force for social change?

  he believes that the development of Calvinism (Protestant religion) Was highly influenced in creating modern capitalism. he argued that one of the causes that made capitalism possible is based on the protestant ethic. He argues that the spirit of capitalism is similar to Calvinist beliefs.
• What are the four distinctive beliefs that encourage capitalism from Calvinist?

  1. Predestination
  2. Divine transcendence
  3. Asceticism
  4. The value of work
• What is Predestination (weber and Calvin)?

  Calvinist preach that God had already decided he would enter the kingdom of heaven before birth, and this was unchangeable. This gives individuals, salvation anxiety.
• (weber and Calvin) what is Divine transcendence?

  No individual would have the power to rival God and be able to predict his wishes. The only source of information is from the Bible itself. This combination with predestination creates what Weber refers to as salvation panic.
• (Weber and calvinism) what is Asceticism ?


  • calvinist preach that the followers of Calvinism should leave a life of abstinence denying themselves of all all pleasures that could distract them from their devotion to Faith.
  • (this can lead to the accumulation of personal wealth and people that had this would invest in businesses and through this create the birth of capitalism)
• (weber and calvinism) what is The value of work ?

  Calvinists introduced this worldly asceticism Calvinist believed that the only way to glorify God was to devote themselves to their work As a way to honour him
• Analysing Weber?

  He argued that Calvin is on was not the only cause of capitalism, but it was a large part of the process, along with economic and social developments. During The 16th/17th century of the country, such as India and China were far more economically developed than Scotland.
• How does Weber explain why Hinduism did not lead to a capitalism development when they were more economically developed than countries like Scotland at the time ?

  • Hindu beliefs prevent the development of capitalism, because it was an ascetic religion, but its Orientation was worldly So encouraged its followers to be concerned with the spiritual world, instead of the material one. This isn’t like this worldly asceticism beliefs of Calvinism, which discouraged people from the business orientated behaviour that modern capitalism requires
• How does Weber explain why Confucianism did not lead to a capitalism development when they were more economically developed than countries like Scotland at the time ?

  Confucian beliefs prevented the development of capitalism, because like Calvinism Confucianism was our worldly religion however, it is not ascetic. This meant it was impossible to systematically accumulate wealth to reinvest back into businesses which is necessary for modern capitalism
• Criticisms of Weber?


  kautsky- argues that he overestimates the role of the ideas and underestimates the economic factors. In bringing capitalism into development. This could mean that capitalism proceeded ism, rather than followed Calvinism why this is a weakness to roti is saying is because this means that Calvinism /religion did not bring about the social change of capitalism so the Protestant ethic is unreliable evidence
• Criticisms of Weber?


  • Tawney - argues that technological change not religious ideas that caused capitalism. as the role of capitalism is the main part of the ideological state apparatus as it legitimates the purpose economic game in order to control. This is convincing because other religious movements have had similar ingredients/religious values so there must be something extra needed to develop capitalism
  • he is also been criticised because capitalism did not occur in every country. so Calvin is on cannot be the force for driving social change of capitalism if it did not occur everywhere
• Marxist view on religion and social change?


  Engles believed that religion has a dual character. It can act as a force for change, as well as a stability.

  Bloch agrees Engles he sees religion as an expression of the principle of hope, our dreams of a better life that contains image that can inspire protest and rebellion
• what was the liberation theory?

  • in South America, 1960s and 70s, a catholic priest developed the liberation theology movement this was because of the result of the Vatican to help followers with poverty and exploitation.
  • They took aside of the oppressed E.G when dictatorship use murder squad/torture to hold power. They helped the poor communities, fighter oppression, and helped liberate and educate them of their position. The priest encouraged them to follow and enforce change upon their society, even to use violence when necessary in order to overthrow the dictatorship that press them.
• What is the millenarian movement?


  millennial movements are the example of the desire to change things on earth at present and bring about the kingdom of God. They believe there will be a significant event usually the second coming of Christ, who will rule for thousands of years before the day of judgement.
• What is the appeal of millenarian movement?

  The appeal of this movement is larger to the poor as they promise immediate improvements. This appeals to the poor because they are suffering, but they know they will eventually be rewarded for dealing with this suffering so then they are more likely to accept their suffering as they believe they will be rewarded for this in the second coming of Christ
• millenarian movement and political movements?

  millenarian movement were the precursors (they come before) to the political movements(religious beliefs, help, and guide to political movement) to overthrow colonial rule. angles notes, it is the first awakening of the ‘proletariat self’ consciousness
• who talks about religion and hegemony?

  Gramsci
• what dose Gramsci say about religion and hegemony?


  hegemony is the ruling class using ideas, such as religion to maintain control. When hegemony is established. The ruling class can rely on popular consensus to rule, so there is less need for coercion e.g the immense, conservative ideological power of the Catholic Church helped to win support for Mussolini’s regime
• what is counter hegemony? - Gramsci?

  however, it is possible for the working class to develop an alternative vision for society, also known as counter hegemony. So religion has a dual character and can challenge as well as support the ruling class. Popular reforms of religion can help workers to see through ruling classes hegemony by offering a vision for a better fairer world .
• How does this strengthen Engels view of a dual character?

  Gramsci is saying that when we have a good relationship, it creates hegemony, and this makes it hard for the working class to challenge the Ruling class, but Counter hegemony is the breaking down of that relationship which allows ruling class to be challenged. It strengthens Engels because it explains the conditions and situations needed to carry out a social change.
• Who talks about religion and social protest?

  Bruce
• What does Bruce say about religion and social protest?

  Like Weber, Bruce is interested in the relationship between religion and social change.

  • Using case studies, he compares to examples of the role of religiously inspired movements in America that have tried to change society first the civil right movement and second the new Christian right movement.
• What is the American civil rights movement?

  • In the USA, in the 1960s, the revered Martin Luther, King and the southern Christian leadership council supported the civil rights movement, and this resulted in legislations to reduce racial discrimination
  • Bruce argues that black clergy. Were fundamental in assisting the civil rights movement to meet its goals of ending segregation in the southern USA.
  • churches provided meeting places and safety from white violence, gave it moral legitimacy to the cause, and much more, so religion was a crucial part supporting and promoting this movement
• the new Christian right (religion is not always successful in bringing about social change)?


  • The New Christian rights is a politically and morally conservative Protestant fundamentalist Movement. It became famous in the 1960s as it opposed the liberation of the US society.
  • The new Christian argued to criminalised abortion, homosexuality divorce while encouraging traditional families and gender roles, turning the clock back to a golden age of purity.

  They spread messages Through TV as churches owned TV stations through pressure, groups and through social media
• The reason Bruce, argues at the new Christian rights have been largely unsuccessful is ?

  Because Of their difficulty to operate with other religious groups. Lacked widespread public support/negative tone of the message and generally Americans are comfortable with the leisure activities. They are as moral E.G gay marriage, abortion and pornography