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Religion, Social change and post-modernist theories - Coggle Diagram
Religion, Social change and post-modernist theories
Religion as social protest
Steve Bruce (2003)
Compared two religiously inspired movements which sought to change society: The American Civil Rights Movements and the New Christian Right
ACRM (1950s and 60s):
Sought to end racial segregation, Black people were segregated in schools, shops, transport and buses, Interracial marriage was forbidden, blacks excluded from voting
1955
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person, sparked a course of direct action such as boycotts, protests and demonstrations (Montgomery Bus Boycott etc)
Black Clergy men played a pivotal role in this social protests (MLK)
Provided support, meeting places, sanctuary from white violence, use of prayer and hymns to keep morale up
Black clergymen shamed whites by appealing to christian values, this message went nationwide and found support
Religion acted as an 'ideological resource' or inspiration which could be used as a symbol by the protesters
The New Christian Right
Aim to take America 'back to god' and aim to make abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal, turning back the clock back to a time before the liberalisation of American Culture and Society
Believe strongly in traditional family and traditional gender roles and campaigns for the teaching of 'creationism' and to ban sex education in schools
made effective use of the media: church owned television stations and used these to raise funds and broadcast programmes with the aim to recruit more members
Right wing Christian pressure groups have also become the focus point of political campaigning and for strengthening links with the Republican party
NCRM has been largely unsuccessful:
Its campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when campaigning on the same issues such as abortion
It lacks widespread support and has been met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice
Bruce
The NCRM is failed movement for social change
Identified several 'tools' used by religious organisation to help contribute to social change
The moral high ground: 'Love thy neighbour' did not fit in racial segregation
Channelling dissent: religion acted as a great focalising agent; MLK's funeral was a good rallying point
Acting as an honest broker: Religion being respected by both sides could act as shared context for discussion
Mobilising public opinion: Black churches, preachers preaching from pulpits to a captive audience
Bruce:
saw ACRM as an example of religion being involved in a secular struggle; reaching out to sympathetic audience; embodying the American Constitution
Marxism and Religious change
Friedrich Engels
argued that although religion inhibits changes by disguising inequality it can also challenge the status quo and encouraging social change
Eg; religion sometimes preaches liberation from slavery and misery
Although senior clergy usually support the status quo, lower ranks within the church hierarchy to support/inspire and organise popular protest.
Ernst Bloch
Argues that religion did offer people the idea of a better sort of society: a glimpse towards utopia
As an Athiest, thought that religion was misplaced, he did see it a hope for a better sort of society and a belief that people should be able to have dignity and a good life
Hope for a better world in religious belief can influence the desire for better things on Earth - and can help rally people to organise and bring about social change
Otto Maduro
Argued that the liberation theology has encouraged people to actively change society in Central America
deepening rural poverty and the growth of urban slums throughout Latin America
Human rights abuses following military take-overs, such as torture in death squads murdering political opponents such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina
Liberation theology states that far from being passive recipients of aid from richer countries, it was essential that the poor should organise themselves and overthrow the oppressive regimes that impoverish and exploit them
This is an example of religion providing what Gramsci calls a 'Counter hegemony' in which the ruling class hegemony can be challenged by presenting to oppress people the vision of an alternative and more just organisation of society
Dwight Billings:
applies Gramscis ideas of hegemony and religion in a case study comparing class struggle in two communities: coal miners and textile workers - in Kentucky in the 1920s and 30s
Both groups were evangelical and protestant, but the miners were much more militant, struggling for the recognition of their union and better working conditions, while textile workers accepted the status quo
Argued that thee differences in the levels of militancy can be understood in terms of hegemony and the role of religion
leadership:
the miners benefited from the leadership of organic intellectuals - clergy who helped convert the miners to the union cause, textile workers lacked such leadership
Organisation:
The miners were able to use independent churches to hold meetings and organise , whereas the textile workers lacked such spaces
Support:
The church kept miners morale high with supportive sermons, prayer meetings and group singing, By contrast, textile workers who engaged in union activity met with opposition from local church leaders.
Concluded that religion can play a prominent 'opposition role'. His study showed that the same religion can be either called upon either to defend the status quo or justify the struggle to change it
Millenarian movements
An example of the desire to change things on Earth at present and bring about the kingdom of god by poor exploited groups (usually a response to colonialism and empire)
Combine traditional beliefs with Christianity, uniting tribal groups into mass movements
These were the precursor to political movements which overthrew colonial rule - for marxists, they were the first awakening of the Proletariat self consciousness
Religion as a source of conflict
Religious fundamentalism: means returning to the fundamentals of any religion, usually based on the literal interpretation of a sacred text
Exists in many forms of religion: NCR, Jewish fundamentalism (Zionists) Islamic fundamentalists found in various Muslim communities, Hindu fundamentalist in India
Bruce (2003):
argued that fundamentalism often involves
Literal interpretations of sacred texts
Hostility towards other beliefs
Desire to reshape the world in accordance to their beliefs
Use violence
Often emerges as a response to perceived threat to traditional religious belief - such as modernisation, science or globalisation
Iranian revolution, war in Afghanistan, Israeli - Palestinian conflict
Postmodernist theories of religion
All previous theories are now out of date and can no longer explain religion and its behaviour in contemporary society
In a world characterised by globalisation and rapid social change, it is more difficult as ascertain the role religion plays - single explanations often fail
The decline of meta-narratives:
Belief has become more fragmented
Individuals are now less willing to accept what religious authorities say they should believe
Individuals now often have a diversity of beliefs
Individuals are choosing 'pick n' mix' beliefs through spiritual shopping
Religion as a consumer product
Religion has a declined source of collective identity
Instead, religion has become another consumer product - a source for individual identity
We blend all kinds of beliefs (established faiths, Religious sects, and cults and NA spirituality)
The rise of the global spiritual market place
Baudrillard: 'media-saturated' society
The global marketplace now extends to religion
We shop around for what suits us
The vacuum of meaning:
Bauman: there has been a crisis of meaning in a post modern society, A rejection of traditional values and meta narratives, Individuals search for new sources of meaning and identity
The disnneyisation of religion
Blending religion, consumerism and pop culture
placing an emphasis on fun amusement and selling itself like a disney fun fantasy world