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Topic 2 Conservative Force or Social Change, Evaluation to Berger …

- - - - According to Marxism - conservative force as it's part of the dominant ideology of the bourgeoisie and reinforces the FCC and legitimates inequality
        (Marx / Lenin / Althusser / Gramsci)
    - - Reinforces value consensus and perpetuating social solidarity
        
        Helps to build collective identity and maintain cultural transitions which Bruce demonstrates with concepts of cultural defence and transitions
        
        Cultural defence = Religion functions as a focal point for the defence of community identity
        
        Cultural transition = EMG's who move into different culture and use religion as a source of identity and support during a transition
        (Durkheim / Parsons / Malinowski / Bellah)
    - - Religion and institutions are patriarchal
        
        Religious beliefs justify, reproduce and reproduces inequality based on male dominance and control of women by men
        (Armstrong / Woodhead / Aldridge)
    - - Religion as a Compensator
        Stark and Bainbridge
        
        Echo's the concerns of Berger and Functionalists by examining the meaning and function of religion
        
        They see religion to meet the needs of individuals when their sense of social order is disturbed by hardship
        
        A belief in God means individuals can make sense of why there is suffering
        
        Religion is a general compensator with an eventual reward
        
        Religion will never disappear as it answers universal questions
        
        Religion contributes to the maintenance of life acting as a conservative force in society
      - Interpretivist
        Berger - 'Universe of Meaning'
        
        'UoM' = set of beliefs and values that help people to make sense of world and give life focus and order
        e.g - Meaning of life and death, what happens after death?
        
        By religion providing a UoM and an explanation to the dark side of life means social stability can be maintained = Conservative Force
        
        Each religion also provides a theodicy
        
        An explanation for the contradiction in the existence of God who is assumed to be all loving and powerful yet there ids still suffering and evil
        e.g Gods Plan / Free Will / Life is a Test
        
        See's religion as a 'Sacred Canopy' stretching over society protecting people from life uncertainties
        Britain is said to be loosing this canopy
      - Feminist Views on Religion and Patriarchy
        
        Conservative force due to patriarchal factors:
        
        2) Marginalisation
        
        3) Allocation of Traditional Women Roles
        
        1) Subordinate roles of women
        
        4) Fewer religious rights compared to men
    - - Structural Theories
        
        Institution of religion moulding people into conforming and thus acting as a conservative force
      - Interpretivists
        
        How religion is used by individuals to understand themselves and the world around them by creating meanings towards symbols and ceremonies
- - - - Divine Transcendence
        
        God is so far beyond the world that no one can know God
        
        Calvinists felt 'unprecedented inner loneliness' leading to 'salvation panic' as they couldn't know if they were or not part off "the elect"
      - Asceticism
        
        Self-Discipline, avoids luxury leading a simple, non-materialistic life devoted to God
      - Predestination
        
        God has decided who is to be saved (The Elect) and this cannot be changed
      - Idea of Vocation or Calling
        
        Before Calvinism, religious vocation was to renounce everyday life to join a convent - Weber = other worldly (asceticism)
        
        Calvinism introduces 1st time idea of this - worldly asceticism
        
        Only thing Calvinists knew of Gods plan came from the Bible
        
        The idea of calling meant methodological work in an occupation and not monastery (otherwise you wouldn't earn salvation because it is simply a religious duty)
        
        Earing money but refrain from spending it to maintain ascetism
        (Links to psychological function of religion - feel part of the elect)