RELIGION AS A CONSERVATIVE FORCE
1) Conservative in sense of being traditional and upholds these beliefs and how society should be organised
2) Functions to conserve things as they are and stabilises society and maintains status
quo.
RELIGIONS CONSERVATIVE BELIEFSMost Religions have traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many of them oppose changes that would allow individuals more freedom in personal and sexual matters.
Catholic Church forbids divorce, abortion and artificial contraception.
Opposes gay marriages and homosexual behaviour.RELIGIONS CONSERVATIVE FUNCTIONSFunctions to conserve or preserve things the way they are and maintain status quo
Religion and consensus
By legitamising and disguising exploitation and inequality by creating false conciousness in working class and prevents revolution thereby maintaining stability of capitalist society.
Religion and patriarchy Feminists see Religion as a conservative force because it acts as an ideology that legitimises patriarchal power and maintains women subordination in the family and wider society.
WEBER: RELIGION AS FORCE FOR CHANGE
Weber has shown Religion as a force for change.Max Weber (1905) ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism’
Calvinism ( a form of Protestantism founded by John Calvin during Reformation)
This helped bring about a major social change.
Especially emergence of modern capitalism in Northern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
‘Spirit of capitalism’- based on a systematic, efficient, rational pursuit of profit for its own sake, rather than for its consumption.
Unlike past societies which often spent capitalism on luxury consumption.
CALVINIST BELIEFS
Predestination- ‘The elect’ and which ones were not before birth destined.
Nothing could be done to change their condition.
Divine transcendence
Calvinist knew his will other than Bible.
This left ‘unprecedented inner loneliness’ combined with belief of predestination created ‘salvation panic’ in Calvinists.
They did not know if they were saved and could do nothing to earn their salvation.
Asceticism
Such as Monks who devote themselves to God and life of prayer without luxury.
The idea of a vocation or callingCalvinism introduces for the first time ’worldly asceticism’.
The only thing that Calvinists knew of God’s plan of humanity came from the Bible.
As they grew wealthier it was a sign of God’s favour and their salvation.
They did not spend on luxuries yet they kept reinvesting to gain more profit.
According to Weber, this is the very spirit of modern capitalism.
HINDUSIM AND CONFUCIANISM
Weber did not impose that Calvinism bought capitalism but was one of its causes.A number of material, or economic factors were necessary, such as natural resources, trade, a money economy, towns and cities, a system of law and so on.
Ancient China and India were more materially advanced but did not form capitalism due to lack of Religious belief system that would have spurred its development.
Hinduism was ascetic Religion, orientation though was other- worldly more spiritual
China was Confucianism and veered towards material. It was not ascetic
EVALUATION
Weberians such as Marshall (82) argue it was due to lack of investment capital and skilled labour. Supporting Weber that both cultural and material factors need to be present for capitalism to occur.
Calvinists were amongst first capitalists as they had been excluded by law from political office, they then turned to business as one of the few alternatives opened to them.
Other Religious minorities were also excluded in this way but did not become successful capitalists.
RELIGION AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Steve Bruce (2003) compares two examples of Religously inspired movements in America that have tried to change society:The case studies of civil rights movement and the New Christian Right.
AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT The Black civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s to end racial segregation is an example according to Bruce of a religiously motivated social change.
Civil rights movement began in 1955 when Rosa Parks, refused to sit at the back of the bus. Campaigning involved protest marches, boycotts and demonstrations. Almost a decade later in 1964, segregation was outlawed.
Dr Martin Luther King played a decisive role, giving support and moral legitimacy to civil rights activists:
- Prayer meetings and hymns were a source of unity in face of oppression
Bruce argues that the Black clergy were able to shame the whites in appealing to the shared Christian values of equality.
Their message reached a wide audience outside the Southern state and gained national support.
Bruce sees Religion as an ideological resource- it provided beliefs and practices that protestors could draw on for motivation and support.
Religious organisations are well equipped to support protests and contribute to social change through example of Civil Rights:
- Taking the moral high groundThe Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of the white’s ‘love thy neighbour’ but supported racial segregation.
- Channelling dissentReligion provides channels to express political dissent
- Acting as honest brokerChurches can provide context for negotiating change because they are often respected by both sides and are seen as to be above politics
- Mobilising public opinion Black Churches campaigned for support across the whole of America
Movement achieved its aims because it shared its values as wider society and those in higher power. It brought about change by shaming and brining into practice that all men and women are born equal.
THE NEW CHRISTIAN RIGHT
Politically and morally conservative. Protestant fundamentalist movement.Gained prominence in 1960s because of the opposition of the liberalising of America.
Believes strongly in traditional family and gender roles
Campaigns for the teaching of ’creationism’ (Bible’s literal view account) and to ban sex education in schools
- Only had 15% of population at most
- Difficult to work with other Religious groups
- Lacked widespread support and had opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice.
Very few Americans support the idea of theocracy (rule by religious leaders) and therefore have failed in the movement amongst the popular values of liberal and democratic views of America.
For civil rights movement to be a success the beliefs and demands of motivated religiously protests need to be consistent with that of wider society.
In the American case, they need to connect with mainstreams beliefs about democracy, equality and religious freedom.
MARXISM, RELIGION AND CHANGE
Marxism sees Religion as having a dual character and can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability.Religious ideas can have ‘relative autonomy’ they can be partly independent of the economic base of society.
Marx sees Religion as ‘heart of a heartless world’ its ability to humanise a world made inhuman by exploitation even if its comfort is illusory.
Engels (1895)- Religion can challenge status quo and encourage social stability.
ERNST BLOCH: THE PRINCIPLE OF HOPEReligion is an expression of the ‘principle of home’ our dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia (the perfect world)
Images of paradise may create a vision for a better world with political organisation and leadership, it can bring about social change.
LIBERATION THEOlOGYMovement emerged within Catholic Church in Latin America end of 1960s.
Strong commitment to poor and opposition to military dictatorship.
For centuries, though it was extremely conservative in the fatalistic acceptance of poverty and supporting wealthy elites and military dictatorship.
Liberation theory arose:
- Deepening rural poverty and growth of urban slums in Latin America
- Human right abuses
- Growing commitment among Catholic Priests to an ideology that supports the poor and opposed violations of human rights.
Liberation theory set out to change society and Church took centre action by setting us base communities and educating poor, raising awareness and mobilising support.
In 1980s, attitudes changed as Pope John Paul II condemned liberation theory as it mimicked Marxism and instructed Priests to concentrate on pastoral activities, not political struggle and since then lost influence.
Casanova (94)- liberation theology played an important part in resisting state terror and bring about democracy in Latin America.
Although, Catholicism has become conservative in the 1970s it continues to defend democracy and human rights that were achieved in part of liberation theory.
Maduro sees liberation theory as an example of religiously inspired social change.
Some Marxists though say it depends on how social change is defined.
Liberation theology may have helped bring about democracy but did not threaten the stability of capitalism.
MILLENARIAN MOVEMENTS As Religion raises hope of afterlife, can bring about a desire to change things now on Earth.
Take name from the word ‘millennium’ meaning a thousand years.
In Christian theology refers to the idea that Christ (Peace be upon him) will come on Earth for a second time and rule for a thousand years before the Day of Judgement and the end of the world.
Peter Worsley (68)- create heaven on Earth and be collective the group will be saved not just individuals.
Appeal is largely for the poor because promised immediate improvement, often arise in colonial situations.
During 19th and 20th centuries the cargo were meant for the natives but had been diverted for the whites themselves
Unjust social order was to be overturned, often lead to widespread unrest and threatened colonial rule
Movements are described as pre-political as they used Religious ideas and images, but they united native populations in mass movements that spanned tribal divisions.
Engels argue that it represents first awakening of ‘proletarian self-consciousness’.
GRAMSCI: RELIGION AND HEGEMONY Hegemony- the way the ruling class are able to use ideas such as Religion to maintain control.
When this is established there is less need for coercion i.e. force
Counter hegemony- is where the working class develop an alternate vision of how society should be organised.
Popular forms of Religion can help workers see through the ruling class hegemony by offering a vision of a better world.
‘Organic intellectuals’ educators, organisers and leaders can help workers see the situation they are in and support working-class organisations such as trade unions.
RELIGION AND CLASS CONFLICT Billings (1990)- Kentucky in 1920s and 1930s- two communities miners whom were more militant, whilst the textile workers were quiet and just accepting the status quo.
- LeadershipMiners had support from preachers whom were once miners
Textile workers lacked this and thus were easily influenced by the clergy who denounced their union as ’unGodly’
- Organisation Miners had Church spaces where they organised meetings
Textile workers lacked these amenities
- SupportMiner’s morale was kept high with sermons, prayer meetings etc
Textile workers who engaged in union activity met with opposition from local Church leaders who branded them as communists
Billings show how Religion was an important factor in affecting the level of class struggle. He concludes that Religion can play ‘ a prominent oppositional role’, his study shows how the same Religion can either defend the status quo or justify struggle against it.
Karl Kautsky (1927)- Weber over estimates the role of ideas and under estimates economic factors in bringing capitalism into being.Their wealth and success performed a psychological function as it allowed them to cope with the salvation panic Work could not earn salvation, it was a Religious duty.Thus for Calvinists is the idea of calling or vocation meant constant, methodological work in an occupation not in an monastery.Abstinence, self- discipline and self- denialGod was far above and greater than any mortal that no Church, Priest of Predetermined which souls would be saved.Functionalist see Religion as a conservative force because it functions to maintain social stability and prevent society from disintegration.
Marxists and feminists see Religion as an ideology that supports the existing social structure and acts as a mean of social control, creating stability in the interest of the powerful.
Help maintains the status quo by preventing the less powerful to change things.
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