Religion on social change Essay

This attempt is to assess the contribution of morality as a cause of social modification and what it has cause throughout the years, some say that faith acts as a fusty violence, opposite say it is a major subscriber of social change and some like to accept the middle background hunchledge on this topic. pietism to sociologist can be seen in two types of ways which is either a conservative vehemence (keeping thing the way they ar) or a force for change. Those who see it as a conservative be the ones who believe its a force of stability and order whereas the force for change sociologist would say worship encourages societies to change. Religion macrocosm a conservative force function is to preserve status quo by maintaining traditional beliefs and maintaining patriarchy. Religion has many functions functionalist believe that religion maintains social solidity, social stability and a value consensus and is therefore supports religion existence a concretive force. Ma rxist on the other hand see it as an ideology that prevents social change by legitimating and reproducing inequality and likewise disguises exploitation. Feminist similarly believe religion being a conservative force is a negative force because it legitimates patriarchal power and maintains womens subordination.Religion can be seen as a conservative force as well as being force for change, the most famous of these being Max weber field of operation of the protestant ethic and spirit of capitalism. Weber argues that the religious beliefs of the Calvinist helped sour about a major social change, specifically the emergence of youthful capitalism in n northern Europe in the sixteenth and 14th centuries. The Calvinist had several distinctive beliefs which were predestination which was that paragon has already predestination which souls will be saved and whos non and that no individual can change that. Another belief of theirs is the divine superiority which is that God is immortal and no human can claim to know his will (including priests) and which this combined creates that Weber refers to as salvation panic. nonpareil other belief the Calvinist believe in is asceticism which is being abstinence, having self discipline and self denial to just live a simple life as Jesus did. The last but no least belief is the idea of a vocation or occupational group which are defined by two functions, 1 is it helped the Calvinist to come with their salvation panic as they took this as a sign of Gods favour ad theirsalvation- for why else would they have prospered and 2 is their stash away wealth by the most efficient and rational means likely and not sp hold backing it on luxuries but instead reinvesting it (which in Webers view is the spirit of youthful capitalism).It is very cardinal to watch over that Webers was not arguing that the Calvinist beliefs were the cause of modern capitalism but simply that they were one of its causes. Other societies had a high rate of economical growth than northern Europe in the sixteenth and 17th century but failed to adopt modern capitalism. China and India were more materially advanced but didnt adopt capitalism referable to their inadequacy of religious belief like the Calvinist. They promote rewards in the other life, good deeds and other goals that lacked the material drive that Calvinism created. Weber has guess has many criticisms some of these are that for manikin Kautsky argues that Weber overestimates the role of ideas and underestimates economic featureors in bring capitalism in to being, he argues that in fact capitalism preceded rather than followed Calvinism . Similarly R.H Tawney argues that technological change, not religious ideas, caused the stand of capitalism. Weber has also been criticised because capitalism did not develop in every(prenominal) country where there were Calvinist, for example in Scotland. Steve Bruce is interested in the kind between religion and social change, he therefore used two case studies to analyse this, The American civil rights movements and The New Christian Right.The smart Christian movement is a religiously motivated movement to end racial segregation in America in the 1950s to 60s. The gruesome clergy played a major role (Dr Martin Luther King) giving moral authenticity to activists, they provided sanctuary and unity, appealed to common Christian values of equality. Bruce sees religion is an ideological alternative he identified several ways in which religious organisations are well equipped to support protest and contributes to social change 1) taking the moral high ground which is the color clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of clean-living clergy who preached love thy neighbour but supported racial segregation, 2) channelling dissent is religion provides channels to express political dissent, For example the funeral of Martin Luther king was a beat up point for the civil right cause. 3) Acting as honest cistron beca use churches can provide a context for negotiating changes because they are often well-thought-of by both sides in a conflict and seen as standing(a) above mere politics and lastly 4) Mobilising public opinion iswhen black churches in the south successfully campaigned for support across the whole of America.It had the overlap values of those in power and those in wider society and could use these to thrust for change. The New Christian Rights is a politically and morally conservative, protestant fundamentalistic movement it has gained prominence since 1960s because of its opposition to the liberalising of American society. They ask to take America back to God. As well as compliments abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal and ban SRE in schools. They also want to bring back the traditional family and gender roles (patriarchy) and teach only the creationism, secret code about evolution or big bang theory. The pertly Christian right has been largely unsuccessful in achievin g their aim, reasons are because the moral bulk was never a majority, but 15% of the population at most, also its campaigners find it difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups and they lack widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of choice.The new Christian rights is described as a failed movement for change , in spite of enormous publicity and a high profile in the media it has not achieved its aims of taking America back to god. In conclusion religion has played such a big role in recent and current society, some might say for the best others may disagree. As in item A religion can play an important part in bringing about social change for example religious ideas can be a powerful motivation for change, as Weber showed in his study of Calvinist. , as well as also campaigning for social reform.