RELIGION AND SOCIAL PROTEST

RELIGION AND SOCIAL PROTEST

• BRUCE (2003)
• Interested in the relationship between religion and social change.
• Compared 2 examples of the role of religiously inspired protest movements in America which have tried to change society.
• THE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (CRM)
• This began in 1955 when Rosa Parks a black civil rights activist refused to sit at the back of a bus, as blacks were expected to do at the time. 
• Campaigning involved direct action by black people themselves, including protest marches, boycotts and demonstrations. Almost a decade later, segregation was outlawed (1964)
• Bruce describes rge black clergy as the backbone of movement.
• Led by Martin Luther King, they played a decisive role which gave support and moral legitimacy to civil right activists.
• Churches provided meeting places abd sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and rituals such as prayer meetings and hymn singing were a souce of unity in the face of oppression.
• Bruce sees religion in this context as ideological resource as it provided beliefs and practices that protesters could draw on for support.
• Using the CRM as an example, he identifies several ways in which religious orginisations are well equipped to support protests and help social change:

- Taking the moral high ground : black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached 'love thy neighbor' but supported racial segregation.

- Channelling dissent : religion provides channels to express political dissent. EG the funeral of MLK was…