Transcript Religion - Virgin Media

Religion and Social Change
• 4 main arguments here
• 1. Religion prevents social change
• Religion is a cause of the retention of
conservative or traditional values.
• This is the view of both Functionalists
and Marxists
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2. Religion causes social change
• Quite simply there are those who
believe
• That religion causes changes in
society
• E.g. Weber
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3. ‘It Depends’approach
Here quite literally it depends on a
variety of things
In some cases religion prevents change
In others…it causes change
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4. Changes in society cause changes in
religion
This is the basis of the secularisation debate
– see later notes
“The debate concerning the role of religion in
society is essentially a debate about cause
and effect.”
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Religion and Social Change
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Religion prevents change
Religion as a conservative force
Functionalists see religion as an
integrative force in society, helping to
preserve the status quo.
Marxists agree that religion acts in
opposition to social change but this is in a
negative way i.e. it helps to perpetuate the
class system under capitalism
However, the word 'conservative' can be
used in different ways
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1.
Conservative can mean that things are kept
as they are.
Some things become ‘traditional’ and always
have to be done in a certain way,
this helps to bring about continuity and
stability to a society.
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2.
Conservative can be used in a way which
opposes any new ideas.
This is obviously linked to point 1 but can go
further in that some groups can actively
campaign to prevent change from
happening
e.g. The Roman Catholic Church and its
ideas on birth control.
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3.
Conservative can be used in a radical way, this seems a little
bit of a paradox but if change occurs helping a group or
society to revert back to ways of the past this can be
seen as a step forward by some!
A good example of this is what happened in Iran in the 1979
– the country reacted against the Westernising
influences that had been developing and re-established
a strict Islamic regime.
Many in the Western world saw this as a step backwards
but many in the Islamic world saw it as a step forward.
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Functionalism
Religion is functionally necessary
It helps to maintain social stability and
value-consensus.
It reinforces the collective conscience
it strengthens values and beliefs and
promotes social solidarity
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Collective worship is regarded as particularly
important for the integration of society
since it enables members to express their
shared values and strengthens group unity
By worshipping together, people have a
sense of commitment and belonging.
Ritual is very important to Functionalists
such as Durkheim and Parsons
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Durkheim regarded Nationalism and
Communism as the new religions of
industrial society, taking over from
Christianity
Flag waving, nationalism etc are the new
forms of displaying collective sentiments
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A service to celebrate the lives of Holly Wells and
Jessica Chapman took place at Ely Cathedral for
2,000 relatives, friends and Soham residents as well
as those who helped in the police investigation.
The parents of the murdered 10-year-olds had asked
people to come to the service in brightly coloured clothes
The best friends' bodies were found near RAF
Lakenheath after the girls had been missing for 13 days,
sparking a massive police hunt. School caretaker Ian
Huntley has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act
and charged with murdering the two best friends.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2201228.stm
Religion and Social Change
Marxism
Religion
is the
opium of
the
masses’
‘
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'Religion is a kind of spiritual gin in which
the slaves of capital drown their human
shape and their claims to any decent life'
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Marxism
for Marx religion was essentially a tool of
class exploitation and oppression
Religion is part of the ‘false consciousness
People are conned into believing that
everything is fair
Religion diverts them from focusing on the
inequalities in their lives
God is ‘man/woman made’ – a human creation
Religion and Social Change
Marxism
In communism religion would disappear as there
would be no need for it
Religion ‘dulls the pain of oppression’ by the promise
of paradise in the next life
Some religions make a virtue of suffering
‘it is easier for a camel…etc’
There is promise of more in Heaven/Nirvana etc
Religion justifies the social order….the rich man in his
castle, the poor man at his gate; god made them
high or lowly and ordered their estate.’ (All Things Bright
& Beautiful)
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Marxism
However, there are many Neo-Marxists who
argue that religion does help promote
social change
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Religion Causes Social Change
Weber
Weber believed that religion was a force
for change and developed a theory that
protestentism was responsible for
capitalism developing. This was
developed in his work:'The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit Of
Capitalism'
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Weber believed that there was a
relationship between religious belief
and the ethos of capitalism
It was a particular form of
Protestantism (ascetic
Protestantism) which helped
capitalism to develop in Europe.
The ‘ascetic’ bit was about strict
adherence to biblical rules, an
emphasis on hard work and self
denial.
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Thus, the religious beliefs of
Protestantism coupled with
the presence of the necessary
economic conditions
resulted in the development of
the capitalist system.
A variety of Protestantism –
Calvinism – was particularly
influential
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Calvinism
Was a 16th century protestant religion based on
the works of John Calvin
They believed in pre-destination but were not
sure that they were part of the ‘elect’
destined for heaven – this led to a ‘salvation
panic’
Their frugal lifestyle helped them to convince
themselves that they were saved
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Calvinism
Certain facets of Calvinistic doctrine
actively promoted capitalist
development.
They emphasised hard work, no idleness
(devil makes work for etc) no dancing,
music, theatre etc
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Calvinism
Sex only for procreation (cold baths and
veggie diets were encouraged to
dampen sexual ardour)
Basically, there was little to spend their
money on and so many reinvested in
their businesses - helping them to
grow.
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Although rather a crude analogy – the closest group to
the Calvinists of Weber’s writings are the Amish and
Mennonites.
The Amish are a religious group who live in
settlements in 22 states and Ontario, Canada.
The oldest group of Old Order Amish, about 16-18,000
people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The
Amish stress humility, family and community, and
separation from the world.
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Religion Causes Social Change
Weber - Criticisms
Weber's theory has been subject to
considerable criticism, indeed it is
a classic dispute in sociology.
The main criticisms are that Weber
mislocated capitalism
(historically); misinterpreted
protestantism; misunderstood
catholicism and misplaced
causality.
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• Kautsky (1953) writing from a Marxist standpoint argues
that capitalism actually came before Calvinism and that
capitalists were attracted to Calvinism and adopted it
because it helped to legitimise their way of doing things.
• Some sociologists and historians have argued that
colonialism and slavery were more important in helping
capitalism to develop than Calvinism.
• Some countries with large Calvinist populations (e.g.
Sweden) did not industrialise, therefore pouring cold
water on Weber’s theory. However, Marshall sticks up for
Weber and points out that he never said that Calvinism
was the only factor in helping capitalism to develop, other
things such as skilled and mobile labour were also
important.
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The ‘It Depends’ Approach
This approach suggests that religion can both
prevent change and force change depending
on the circumstances.
An important point concerning change,
however, is that religion can promote two
main types of change: radical - a new
direction in society, or conservative- a return
to the social arrangements of the past
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Thompson (l986),
outlines a range of factors affecting the relationship
between religion and social change:
1. Charismatic leaders.
2. Beliefs end practices.
3. Relationship to society.
4. The social status of religious membership.
5. The presence of alternative avenues to change.
6. Organisational structure
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Charismatic Leaders
There are many charismatic leaders who have
caused social change e.g. Hitler, Christ
People are attracted to charismatic leaders
and are ‘persuaded’ by them
Charismatic religious leaders often, provide a
focus for discontent and a view of a better
world – especially in sects.
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Charisma has 3 key elements
1. It is used to describe a range of people
from rock stars to teachers
2. It is often seen as dangerous – a leader
can make people do things they wouldn’t
normally do
3. Groups with charismatic leaders are often
short lived. It is difficult to maintain the
charisma element once the leader dies!
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Beliefs and practices
The main distinction here is between this
worldly and other worldly beliefs.

Other worldly beliefs
stress the powerlessness of humans and the
inevitability of misery in this world,
but salvation in the world to come,
Consequently they provide little motivation to
change society.
e.g. Hinduism
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This worldly beliefs
• encourage the individual to
try and change the world for
the better glorification of God.
• E.g. The Moonies
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Relationship to society
This is concerned with the extent to
which the church is linked to the state
The closer the links the more likely it is
that a church will support the state and
maintain the status quo
e.g. Catholic Church in Ireland
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Social change is likely to be promoted
by denominations and sects that are
on the fringes of society and whose
membership is primarily made up of
the poor and disadvantaged.
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Social status of religious membership
 there is a tendency for established churches
to draw their membership from upper status
groups while sectarian movements tend to
attract less privileged groups.
Thus sectarian movements may be seen by
their members as a vehicle for the promotion
of social change.
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The presence of alternative avenues to change

The idea, here, is that in the absence of
political avenues for achieving social
change, religion may be the only organised
institution available that can provide the
organisational tools for achieving change
The Catholic church was instrumental in
helping the union ‘Solidarity’ promote
change in Poland.
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Organisational structure
• Religions with a centralised priesthood,
hierarchy of paid officials and bureaucratic
structure often inhibit change.
• Nelson (1971), argues that Sect-like
organisations tend to encourage a 'withdrawal'
from the world. Church like organisations
encourage civil rights militancy.
• Neo Marxists like Gramsci and Madura suggest
strong churches like The RC church can provide
a vehicle for change in some parts of the world
e.g. Latin America
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Merideth McGuire 1981
Says the question should not be - does religion cause social change –
but when, how and under what circumstances.
Beliefs – Where religion is concerned with ‘this’ world rather than
the ‘other’ world it is more likely to enable change. Protestantism
has more impact than Buddhism.
Culture – In cultures where religious belief plays a central part –
then it is more likely to play a role in causing or preventing)
social change.
Social Location – Where religion is intertwined with the political
process it can play a part in enabling change
Internal Organisation – Religions with a strong internal
organisation have more chance of affecting events