Wednesday 19 March 2014

Religion and Social Change

Religion and Social Change

Max Weber: Created Weberism, can be seen to be mirroring Karl Marx as he talks about the economy and Capitalism. 
He agrees with Marx; in some ways religion can prevent change from occurring. 'Theodicies of dispriviledge' those who are the poorest are the most religious due to being offered salvation in the afterlife.
Weber studied European 1500's and said that the Catholic Church was the most dominant. During this period, there was a form of Capitalism; money existed. The Catholic Church told people that having money was a sin, so they should get rid of what they had. The Church essentially wanted to keep people in poverty so they did this due to their own greed.

John Calvin: Didn't agree with what the church was doing, so he created Calvinism (a sect).The core beliefs of Calvinism:
1. Predestination: Before you are born, God has already chosen those who are going to heaven, a small elite group of people.
2. Divine Transcendence: God's power cannot be questioned.
3. Asceticism: Living without pleasure.
4. Vocation/Calling: Work is everything, this is known as the protestant work ethic.
Everyone tried to live by these beliefs but only a small elite group were successful, this created vast inequality in society (modern Capitalism).It can be argued that Calvinism created Capitalism and therefore argued that religion can cause social change.

Confucianism: An old religion of China, similar to 1500's Catholicism, became out of date very quickly because of the alternative that was presented. Globalisation affected Confucianism and sent it into decline. Due to this change in religious belief their economy has boosted because of the protestant work ethic.

Kautsky: A Marxist who criticised Weber's point that the protestant work ethic was one of the main causes of Capitalism. He argues that the protestant work ethic was a lie created by the wealthy to justify the vast inequality. He suggests that those who claimed to be Calvinists were already wealthy before it came about.

Steve Bruce: An Atheist who argued that religion can bring change if it has the backing of the wider public. He gave two examples:
  • American Civil Rights Movement: Reverend Martin Luther King brought change by religion as he did things in a moral way, he was an 'honest broker', he was peaceful and not violent and had the majority of the public supporting him.
  • New Christian Right: Failed to bring change as they had no support from the public they chose to distance themselves from others with similar views and were a minority group.

Liberation Theology

Bloch: Marxist who argued that the majority of the time religion is a conservative force. However, it is a dual character and therefore has the potential for change.

Otto Maduro: Argues that in extreme circumstances religion can be a force for social change. Discusses South America in the 1960s, there was a lot of poverty in these countries and were governed by dictatorships, the only place they could turn to was the church. The priests were poor just like everyone else. The priests decided that change needed to occur, they separated themselves from the Catholic church and led a revolution. The priests had this influence as people trusted them. These priests were condemned by the Pope for going against the wishes and teachings of the Catholic church.

Gramsci: The priests are the organic intellectuals and provide the counter hegemony and therefore provide social change.

Althusser: The Bourgeoisie have an interest in religion as it is part of the ideological state apparatus and social change helps to keep them subdued.

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