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Sociology 2.1.2 - Theories of religion, Quick check questions - page 19 -…
Sociology 2.1.2 - Theories of religion
Marxism, religion and change
Marx: "heart of a heartless world", a conservative ideology a set of ruling-class ideas that are shaped by and legitimate the class inequalities in society's economic base
Engels: religion inhibits change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change
Bloch: religion has dual character, religion is an expression of 'the principle of hope'
Liberation theology
deepening rural poverty and the growth of urban slum
human rights abuse following military take-overs
the growing commitment among Catholic priests to an ideology that supported the poor and opposed violations of human rights
wanted to change society - Pope John Paul ll condemned liberation theology on the grounds that it resembled Marxism
The success has led to some neo-Marxists to question the view that religion is always a conservative force
Maduro: religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change
Lehmann: Liberation theology offers an 'option for the poor' whereas pentecostalism offers an 'option of the poor' for individuals to pull themselves from poverty
Thus = liberation offers a radical solution to poverty
Millenarian movements
religion creates a desire to change things now - the transformation will be collective, group will be saved
appeal of millenarian movements is largely to the poor = promise immediate improvement
Worsley: study of the cargo cults, the islanders felt deprived when cargo (material goods) arrived in the islands for the colonists
These movements often led to widespread unrest that threatened colonial rules
He described the movements as pre-political, used religious ideas and images but united native populations in mass movements that spanned tribal divisions
Gramsci: religion and hegemony
how the ruling class maintain their control over society <- use religious ideas to maintain control
Hegemony = ideological domination or leadership of society
Always possible for the working class to develop an alternative version of how society should be organised
Billings: identifies 3 ways in which religion either supported or challenged the employer's hegemony:
leadership
organisation
support
Concludes = religion play a 'prominent oppositional role' <- study shows that the same religion can be called upon either to defend the status quo or justify the struggle to change it
Quick check questions - page 19
Explain what Weber means by 'this worldly asceticism'
What was the Calvinist doctrine of predestination?
God had predetermined which souls would be saved
Why does Weber argue that the Calvinist experienced 'salvation panic'?
According to Weber, why did Hinduism discourages social change?
Explain what is meant by 'hegemony'
Identity 2 ways in which the churches were able to support the black civil rights movement
suggest one similarity between liberation theology and Marxism
identify 3 characteristics of millenarian movements
Why do Marxists see religion as having a dual character?