Religion and Social Change

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

(Weber) Calvinism brought about the emergence of modern capitalism in the C16th-17th.
Calvinist's had to live an ascetic lifestyle and live their life void of any luxury goods or enjoyment, they had to work hard for the glory of god, reaching success but having to save and reinvest the money into their businesses.
Calvinists suffered from unprecendented inner loneliness because their lives were predestined and only the few elect were chosen by God to go to heaven.
In order to cope with the anxiety they felt they looked for signs of salvation; their success in business made them feel as if they were favoured by God.
Lead to an accumulation of wealth that widened gap between the rich and poor, creating a capitalist system where the rich became richer as they didn't use their money for consumption.
Criticisms: Kautsky (Marxist) Weber overestimates the role of values/culture and underestimates the economic/material factors that brought capitalism into being; Capitalism existed before not after Calvinism.
R.H.Tawney - Technological changes caused birth of capitalism, ruling classes adopted calvinist beliefs afterwards to legitimate their persuit of economic gain.
Capitalism did not quickly develop in all places that had a large calvinist population, e.g, Scotland.

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The American civil rights movement - Bruce states that MLK used churches to bring communities together in order to spread ideas about fighting against racism. They used the bible to shame white people, and took the moral highground by reminding whites of 'love thy neighbour' and that they were going against the Christian principle of equality.
The New Christian Right - They oppose the liberation of American society and aim to take America back to God by making things like; abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage and divorce illegal.
Bruce argues that their aims have been unsuccesful as surveys show; a majority of Americans feel comfortable about the things that they are trying to make illegal. The U.S has liberal values, seperating the church and the state.
Religion can may only create success in social protest if the demands of the pressure groups are consistent with wider society, and connect with mainstream beliefs about democracy, equality and religious freedom.

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Marxists recognise that religious ideas can have relative autonomy from the economic base of society, Marx believes that religion is 'the soul of soulless' conditions and the 'heart of a heartless world', meaning that it can also humanise the world away from inhuman exploitation.
Engels sees religion as having a dual character as it can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change, alongside disgusing inequality.
Bloch; as a Marxist accepts that religion inhibits social change, but it also inspires protest and rebellion by expressing a 'principle of hope', which are dreams of a better life that contain images of utopia; helping people to see what needs to be changed in the world in order to make it perfect.
Liberation theology - Casanova emphasises that the Catholic Church having a strong commitment to the poor in 1960's Latin America played an important part in resisting state terror and bringing about democracy. The church created 'base communities' that educated the poor about their situtation and helped workers/peasants to fight oppression under church protection.
Maduro believes that in the liberation theology religious ideas radicalised the Catholic clergy in defence of peasants and workers, serving the poor was part of their Christian duty.

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The Pentecostal challenge - Lehmann identifies that Pentecostal churches offer an 'option of the poor'; by giving individuals an opportunity to pull themselves out of poverty through their own efforts. Whilst the liberation theology was a radical solution to poverty, Pentacostalism is more conservative and offers self-improvement through the private sphere of church & family.
Millenarian movements - Worsley states that these movements will create a life free of pain, death, corruption etc...Saving the group not just individuals.
Cargo cults (19th-20th) emerged when the Islanders of Melanesia felt that they were being wrongfully deprived of 'cargo' that the colonists stole from them. A widespread unrest began that threatened colonial rule and attempted to overthrow the unjust social order.
Christian beliefs about the suffering of the righteous being rewarded in heaven, and the punishment of the wicked on judgement day encouraged these movements; they were pre-political and used religious ideas and images to unite native populations. Engels argues that they represent the first awakening of 'proleterian self-consciousness'.
Hegemony - Gramsci believes that counter hegemony can be achieved because the w/c are never fully won over by ideological ideas, clergy can act as organic intellectuals by educating, organising and leading the working class, helping them to develop their class consciousness; seeing the situation they're in.

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