1. Religion and Social Justice
Dr. Scott Fitzgerald
Department of Sociology
UNC Charlotte

2. Sociology of Religion Three key aspects of religion Behavior Belonging
Belief
World Religions

4. Sociology of Religion Three key aspects of religion Behavior Belonging
Belief
World Religions
All have teachings on justice
Today’s focus: Contemporary Christianity

6. What role does religion play in producing protest and social change ?

7. What role does religion play ?
Religion can suppress protest:
by encouraging conformity and propagation of the status quo
Religion can support protest:
by providing material resources
by providing interpretive resources
By providing organizational resources

14. Case Study: U.S. Civil Rights Movement
Not all churches supported Civil Rights activism
Those that did provided:
Interpretive resources
Material resources
Organizational resources

15. Social Movements and Social Change
How to create change?
Individual action v. structural change
Coalitions
Hirschman (1970) Exit, Voice, and Loyalty

17. Religion and Protest Key role of religion and religious organizations
Civil Rights Movement (U.S.)
Solidarity Movement (Poland)
Liberation Theology (Central America)
Farm Worker’s Movement (California)
Sanctuary Movement (U.S.)