1. Religion And Social Change
Coinciding Textbook Chapter: Topic 2: Pages13 to 19

2. Religion As A Conservative Force
Religion is seen as conservative in the sense of being traditional, it upholds traditional beliefs about society should be organised.
Religion being a conservative force ALSO means:
Conservative is about religion NOT changing things. This means religion is conservative because it functions to conserve or preserve things as they are.

3. Functionalists seen religion as a conservative force as it functions to main social stability and prevent society from disintegrating Religion is about CONSENSUS. Stops people being selfish.
Marx sees religion as a conservative ideology which prevents social change by legitimating or disguising exploitation. Religion is all about putting up a smokescreen for people. They live in a ‘false belief’ that all is okay…due to religion. Look back at your RELIGION & MARXISM SHEETS

4. FEMINISTS
Feminists see religion as an ideology that legitimates patriarchal power and maintains women’s subordination in the family and wider society. Religion therefore acts as a conservative force as it keeps women in their traditional roles…as may be outlined by religion.,

5. Weber: Religion As A Force For Change
Weber WROTE/ RESEARCHED:
THE PROTESTANT ETHIC & THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM
Weber believed that religion can bring about SOCIAL CHANGE.
He used a specific religious example (CALVINISM – A form of Protestantism) to show how RELIGION CAN INDUCE social change.

6. CALVINISM / ASCETIC PROTESTANTISM
Religious beliefs of Calvinism helped to bring about major social change
Many past societies had capitalism in the sense of greed for wealth. E.g Roman Societies.
Modern capitalism is unique because it is based on the systematic, efficient rational purist of profit for its own sake (the spirit of capitalism)

7. Calvinist beliefs: john calvin (1509-64)
Predestination
God has predetermined which souls to save, this cannot be changed. The Calvinists don’t know whether they are amongst the chosen few, whose souls are being saved.

8. Divine Transcendence
God is far beyond this world and no human could possibly ever claim to know his will. This left the Calvinists to feel an ‘unprecedented inner loneliness’, combined with predestination this leads to a ‘salvation panic’.
Not knowing whether they were ‘due to be saved’ by God, led to this feeling.

9. Asceticism:
Refers to abstinence, self-discipline and self- denial – leading a simple life.
The idea of VOCATION.
Calvinist idea of vocation meant constant, methodical work. Their wealth performed a psychological function that allowed them to cope with the salvation panic. Secondly, they accumulated wealth which was reinvested into their business

10. WORK = CALLING
God was most effectively worshipped through having a rigorous and disciplined life.
Any activity that distracted them from their work was EVIL.
This is called the Protestant Ethic…

11. Hinduism And Confucianism
Weber was not arguing that Calvinist beliefs were the cause of capitalism but simply one of the causes
In places like ancient China and Indian, capitalism did not take off
This is because there was a lack of religious beliefs like Calvinism which would have spurred the development
Hinduism favoured the renunciation of the material world and directed its followers towards the spiritual world
Confucianism directed its followers towards the material world but it was not ascetic

12. Evaluation Of Weber
Marshall: A lack of investment and skilled labour force means capitalism cannot develop.
Kautsky: Weber underestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic factors in bringing capitalism
Tawney: Technological change not religious ideas caused the birth of capitalism. The bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimate their pursuit of economic gain
Capitalism did not develop in all countries which a high population of Calvinists e.g. Scotland
Sombart: Calvinists was against greed and the pursuit of money for its own sake
Some have suggested that slavery, colonialism and piracy were more important than Calvinist beliefs in accumulating the capital required for industrialization

13. Religion And Social Protest: Bruce, The American Civil Rights Movement
The black clergy served as the backbone of the movement
They played a decisive role giving support and moral legitimacy
Churches acted as meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence
The black clergy were able to shame the whites by appealing to their shared Christian values of equality

14. Bruce: The American Civil Rights Movement continued....
Bruce identifies several ways in which religious organisation are well equipped to support protest and contribute to social change
Taking the moral high ground
Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached equality but supported segregation
Channelling dissent
Religion provides channels to express political dissent e.g. MLKs funeral provided a rallying point for the movement
Acting as a honest broker
Church provide a context for negotiating change as they are seen to be standing above ‘mere politics’
Mobilising public opinion
Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America

15. The New Christian Right: Bruce
Politically and morally conservative fundamentalist movement
They seek to take America ‘back to God’ and maintain traditional gender roles
Example of a failed religious political movement
They have been largely unsuccessful in achieving their aims;
The ‘moral majority’ was never a majority but 15% of the population at most
The group find it difficult to cooperate with other religious groups even when campaigning on the same issue
They lack widespread support and have met with strong opposition groups
Most Americans are comfortable with legalising activities they personally believe to be immoral

16. Marxism, Religion And Change
Marxists recognise that ideas can have relative autonomy, they can be partly independent of the economic base of society
Engels: Although religion inhibits change by disguising inequality, it can challenge the status quo and encourage social change
Bloch: Religion has a duel character. It can inhibits social change but also inspire protest, rebellion, ‘a principle of hope’. Images of utopia can sometimes deceive people but they can also encourage the creation of a better world

17. Liberation Theology
Emerged within the Catholic Church of Latin American with strong commitment to the poor and opposition to military dictatorship
The emphasis in on ‘praxis’, practical action guided by theory
Liberation theology set out to change society and high oppression
In the 1980’s Pope John Paul II condemned liberation theology on the grounds that it resembled Marxism and it’s since lost influence
Casanova: Liberation theology played an important role in bringing about democracy
Maduro: Believe religion can be revolutionary force that brings social change
Lowy: Questions Marx’s view that religion always legitimates social inequality

18. Millenarian Movements: Worsley
Refers to the idea that Christ will return and rule for a thousand years before the Day of Judgment and the end of the world
Appeal is largely to the poor as they promise immediate improvement
Worsley studied movements in Melanesia known as cargo cults
The islanders felt deprived when ‘cargo’ arrived for the colonists
These cults asserted that the cargo was meant for the islander and that this social injustice was going to be overturned
These movements combined elements of traditional beliefs with Christianity
Worsley describes them as ‘pre political’, they used religious ideas but united native populations

19. Religion And Hegemony: Gramsci
The term hegemony refers to the way the U/C are able to use ideas to maintain control
Hegemony is never guaranteed, it is always possible for the W/C to develop an alternative vision – counter hegemony
Like Engles, Gramsci sees religion as having a duel character
Popular forms of religion can help workers see through the hegemony by offering a vision of a better world
Some clergy may act as organic intellectuals
They help the workers to see the situation and support W/C organisation e.g. Trade unions

20. Religion And Class Conflict: Billings
Applies Gramsci idea’s in a case comparing class struggle in two communities; coalminers and textile workers (see table on next slide)
Both were W/C and evangelic Protestant but experience different levels of strike activity and industrial conflict
The miners were more militant, struggling for recognition of their union and better conditions
The textile workers were uncomplainingly accepting the status quo
Billings highlights how religion was an important factor affecting the levels of class struggle, but he notes that other factor played a part e.g. Teamwork

21. Coal Miners
Textile Workers
Leadership
Benefitted from the organic intellectuals. The clergy helped to convert miners to the union cause
Lacked leadership, They were easily influenced by the clergy who identified with the employers and denounced unions
Organisation
Used independent churches to hold meeting
Remained within ‘company churches’
Support
Churches kept morale high with supportive sermons e.t.c
Those engaged in union activity met with strong opposition from local church leaders