Religion and social change

Two Major approaches Sociologists that have studied the role of religion in society tend to fall into one of two broad camps: 1.Those who see religion as a 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 a Marxist point of view. 2.Those who see religion as 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 the writings of Max Weber.

CONSERVATIVE FORCE 1.Religion is traditional and upholds traditional customs and beliefs to how society should be organised. 2. It functions to conserve or preserve the status quo

List any examples of religion as a conservative or force for social control. ConservativeSocial change

Religion’s conservative function Functionalism Marxism Feminism

Religion’s conservative function Religion and consensus Maintains social stability, social solidarity and value consensus. Outlet for stress that may otherwise disrupt society Functionalism Religion and Capitalism Religion prevents social change in the interests of powerful Legitimates and reproduces inequality and disguises exploitation Marxism Religion and Patriarchy Religion is an ideology that legitimises patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination Feminism

Functionalis m

Feminis m

Conservativ e Force

Social change

Marxism

Conservativ e Force

FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Engels Engels recognised that religion can play an active role in society and lead to revolutionary social change. He used the example of early Christian sects opposing Roman rule and compared them to communist and socialist political movements. He considered that religion could start as a response to exploitation and become a source of resistance and change

Gramsci (neo-Marxist Rejects traditional Marxist views that the cultural superstructure reflects the social infrastructure. Gramsci suggested that the church could work alongside the working class – religion could empower the working class. He recognised the role that the hegemony of the Catholic Church in Fascist Italy played in serving ruling class interests, but said that religion doesn’t inevitably play this role.

Gramsci: Religion and hegemony Interested in ISAs – how the government use ideas to control society. Hegemony – the way the RC use ideas (RELIGION) to control the WC Government have popular consent to rule so there is no need for coercion. Catholic Church helped win support For Mussolini’s fascist regime.

Gramsci: Religion and hegemony Hegemony isn't always guaranteed – WC can develop an alternative vision or a counter hegemony. Religion has a dual culture that can challenge as well as support the RC. -Offers a vision of what can be -Leaders support WC organisations - TUs

Marxism, religion and change Marxists recognise that religious ideas can have relative autonomy (can be partly independent from the economic base) so can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability Marx thinks religion humanises a world that exploitation has made inhuman Engels – inhibits change but can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change- fight against slavery

Marxism, religion and change Like Engels – (inhibits change but can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change)- Ernst Bloch believed that religion could inspire protest and rebellion. Religion is an expression of the ‘principal of hope’ Cast a vision of a better world and how this can be achieved (with political organisation leading to social change)

Maduro (neo-Marxist) Religion has some independence from the economic system. He denies that religion is always conservative and says that sometimes it can be revolutionary. He states that the clergy have revolutionary potential for voicing the troubles of the oppressed and leading to action. Liberation theology: In Latin America catholic clergy have become increasingly critical of oppressive regimes and been involved in popular struggle The involvement of Catholic clergy in anti-communist activity in Poland before the abandonment of communism

Liberation theology Emerged in 1960s, Catholic church, opposition to military dictatorships and commitment to helping the poor in Latin America. Big move away for the Church from supporting elites and accepting poverty. Arose due to 3 factors 1.Deepening rural poverty 2.Human rights abuses by military dictatorships 3.Commitment of priests to ideology that supported HR and the poor

Liberation theology Priests harboured freedom fighters, developed literacy programmes, took the sides of the oppressed and mobilised support. In 1980s the Church’s official line changed and it condemned liberation theory on the grounds that it resembled Marxism. The priests had to concentrate on the pastoral activities – not political struggles. The movement has since lost influence. Most countries are now democracies and Catholicism has got more conservative. But still defends democracy and HR

Liberation theology Liberation theory has led Marxists to believe that religion can be a force for social change. Otto Maduro – religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change. The religious ideas radicalised the clergy in the fight for the peasants and workers Lowy – questions Marx’s view that religion always legitimises social inequality. Other Marxists disagree that it can bring about change – depends on definition of the social change

Liberation theology

Read the Liberation Theology fact files and make notes

GK Nelson (1986) Northern Ireland – Roman Catholicism and Republicanism USA 1960s Martin Luther King 1960s Roman Catholicism in Latin America – 1979 supported Sandinistas Iran – Islamic fundamentalism played a big part in 1979 revolution South Africa – Archbishop Tutu vs. apartheid ‘far from encouraging people to accept their place, religion can spearhead resistance and revolution’

Religion and Social protest Steve Bruce – Relationship between religion and social change. Compares the role of religiously inspired protest movements in the USA Civil Rights The new Christian Right h?v=gBPeCQzHu5wwww.youtube.com/watc h?v=gBPeCQzHu5w

The American Civil Rights Movement Bruce – CRM = Religiously motivated social change Campaigning involved direct action (marches, boycotts, demonstrations). Segregation outlawed in 1964 The Black Clergy played a major role (Dr Martin Luther King) giving moral legitimacy to activists. They provided sanctuary and unity. Appealed to common Christian values of equality 1QZik4CYtgw&feature=relatedwww.youtube.com/watch?v= 1QZik4CYtgw&feature=related

Bruce – Religion is an ideological resource Religious organisations role in social change Channelling dissent Acting as an honest broker Mobilising public opinion Taking the moral high ground CRM helped religion get involved with a secular struggle and bring about change. It had the shared values of those in power and those in wider society and could use these to push for change

Martin Luther King

Desmond Tutu

There can be equality with a religion

Religion and social change N.Ireland: M.L.K: Sandinistas: Tutu:

Meredith McGuire (1981) Meredith McGuire (1981) agrees that religion can be a force for social change – she looked at the factors that determine whether religion acts as a radical force or not. Beliefs – stronger moral codes are more likely to produce critical members Close links between culture and religion means that religion can be an incredibly powerful force in these societies. Social location – if an established church has socio-economic power it it much more likely to create change Religions with a strong centralized source of authority are more likely to affect events

Max Weber change-in-protestantism-and-liberation-theology.html#lesson The protestant ethic

Weber Weber (1922) identifies that every society in history has had some form of religious belief. Religion helps people make sense of everyday life. Like Marx, he argued that religion justifies the status quo. theodicy of privilege or non privilege. But Weber took a micro view – individuals use religion to explain why some people have wealth, status and power and others do not = theodicy of privilege or non privilege.

Social change always Weber argued that religion can lead to social change. Rejecting the Marxist view that religion is always shaped by economic factors. Sometimes the reverse can happen.

Weber Religion as a force for change CapitalismCalvinism Calvinism brought about a work ethic that gave rise to capitalism (was one of the contributing factors, others resources, trade etc) An Example: The Protestant Ethic

“For religion must necessarily produce industry and frugality, and these cannot but produce riches…” (John Wesley – Leader of Methodist revival in 18 th C)

‘The spirit of capitalism’ Capitalism is based on the systematic, efficient, rational pursuit of profit for its own sake, rather then consumption (not spent on greed for wealth as in past). The spirit had Elective affinity (unconscious similarity) to the Calvinist beliefs and attitudes. Weber Religion as a force for change

Calvinist beliefs PredestinationDivine Transcendence AsceticismThe idea of vocation or calling God has predetermined which souls will be saved The individual can do nothing to change this salvation anxiety – not knowing if heaven or hell awaited. God is so immortal and great that no human can claim to know his will (including priests). This gives rise to loneliness. This combined with predestination created what Weber refers to as salvation panic Abstinence, self discipline and self denial. Live a simple life as Jesus did Other world asceticism a calling to serve God (Monks) used to be the only calling Weber believed that Calvinism introduced this world asceticism. That we work to glorify Gods name and we do this through mythological work in society (as a religious duty) Idleness is a sin, no luxury, long working hours Performed 2 functions: 1.Allowed Calvinists to cope with their salvation panic 2.Reinforced the gains of more wealth. The spirit of modern capitalism.

two rationality For Weber, capitalist countries were based on two forms of rationality – formal and substantive. 1.Formal rationality involved calculating the best means to achieve a given end. 2.Substantive involved action designed to reach a goal such as justice or equality. Capitalist behavior put primary emphasis on the formal and substantive fades into the background.

Weber argues that rationality is at odds with faith. He felt that secularization was a result of capitalism – Protestantism developed capitalism but has also been undermined by its creation – “Calvinistic Protestantism was its own gravedigger” (Hamilton 1995)

Evaluation of Weber Before we begin, write down 3 key points that you feel summarise Weber’s theory. Religion is a force for social change The Protestant work ethic Theodicy - predestination

Some commentators have suggested that slavery, colonialism and piracy were more important than Calvinist beliefs in accumulating the capital required for industrialisation. PARKIN – is critical of Weber as capitalism was late to develop in Scotland, despite Calvinism being present there. Marxists such as Kautsky are critical – they argue that capitalism predates Calvinism. RH Tawney – technological change gave rise to capitalism. Then we adopted ideas to maintain it Bruce & Hamilton – Weber’s theory lacks validity based on assumption, not evidence Kautsky– Weber overestimates ideas and underestimates the economic factors Evaluation of Weber

A02a: Jones surprising relevance for contemporary society – can see evidence in modern day society…

Hinduism and Confucianism Other societies had a higher rate of economic growth then Northern Europe in the C16th and C17th, but still failed to adopt modern capitalism. China and India were more materially advanced but didn’t adopt capitalism due to their lack of religious belief like Calvinism. They promote rewards in the other life, good deeds and other goals that lacked the material drive that Calvinism created.

Confucianism The Tiger Economies

Millenarian Millennialism Definitions:

Millenarian movements According to Collins, many if not most millenarian groups claim that the current society and its rulers are corrupt, unjust, or otherwise wrong. They therefore believe they will be destroyed soon by a powerful force. The harmful nature of the status quo is considered intractable without the anticipated dramatic change

Millenarian movements Millenarian movements are an example of the desire to change things on earth at present and bring about the kingdom of God. Millenarian movements expect the imminent transformation of this world by supernatural means. The group will be saved on earth and will live in utopia on earth – Peter Worsley Worked well amongst poor, exploited groups, especially in the colonies.

Millenarian movements Millenarian movements used traditional beliefs, ideas and images with Christianity. They united tribal movements and became mass movements. The were the precursor to the political movements to overthrow colonial rule. For Marxists they were the first awakening of the proletarian self consciousness

Is Religion A Force For Good In The World? world/

33 Mark Assess the contribution of religion to social change

Religion and Social Change: Fundamentalism – a case study

The Iranian Revolution atch?v=ZOaGmK8aTHQ

The New Christian Right Protestant fundamentalists Opposition to the liberalising society Want to take America ‘back to God’ Want abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal and ban SRE in schools Want traditional family and gender roles and teaching of creationism only in schools.

The New Christian Right Campaigns increase profile since 1970s Use of media – Televangelists – to make converts and recruit new members Links with the Republican party New moral majority formed as a pressure group

The New Christian Right The NCR has been largely unsuccessful New moral majority – not a majority – but 15% of population Found it difficult to cooperate with other religious groups Oppositional groups – pro-choice Bruce NCR = Failed movement for social change Didn't connect with the mainstream beliefs about democracy, equality and religious freedom (as CRM did)

9 mark Question Identify and explain 3 reasons why the NCR might have failed to achieve its aims