RELIGION SOCIAL PROTEST Religion and Social Change Religion

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RELIGION & SOCIAL PROTEST Religion and Social Change

RELIGION & SOCIAL PROTEST Religion and Social Change

Religion and social protest Steve Bruce • Relationship between religion and social change. •

Religion and social protest Steve Bruce • Relationship between religion and social change. • Compares the role of religiously inspired protest movements in the USA www. youtube. com/watch? v=g. BPe. CQz. Hu 5 w 2. 14

Religion and social protest Steve Bruce • Civil Right Movement = religiously motivated social

Religion and social protest Steve Bruce • Civil Right Movement = religiously motivated social change • Campaigning involved direct action (marches, boycotts, demonstrations). • The Black Clergy played a major role (Dr Martin Luther King) giving moral legitimacy to activists. They provided sanctuary and unity. Appealed to common Christian values of equality • www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 QZik 4 CYtgw&feature=related 1. 55

Religion as an ideological resource Steve Bruce Channelling dissent Taking the moral high ground

Religion as an ideological resource Steve Bruce Channelling dissent Taking the moral high ground Religious organisations role in social change Mobilising public opinion Acting as an honest broker Civil Rights Movement helped religion get involved with a secular struggle and bring about change. It had the shared values of those in power and those in wider society and could use these to push for change

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society • Want to take America ‘back to God’ • Want abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal and ban Sex and Relationships Education in schools • Want traditional family and gender roles and teaching of creationism only in schools.

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society • Want to take America ‘back to God’ • Want abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal and ban Sex and Relationships Education in schools • Want traditional family and gender roles and teaching of creationism only in schools.

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society

New Christian Right Basic principles • Protestant fundamentalists • Opposition to the liberalising society • Want to take America ‘back to God’ • Want abortion, homosexuality and divorce illegal and ban Sex and Relationships Education in schools • Want traditional family and gender roles and teaching of creationism only in schools.

New Christian Right Increasing influence • Campaigns increase profile since 1970 s • Use

New Christian Right Increasing influence • Campaigns increase profile since 1970 s • Use of media (Televangelism) to make converts and recruit new members • Links with the Republican party • New moral majority formed as a pressure group www. youtube. com/watch? v=x. XOEAz 46 v. Mk 9. 20

New Christian Right Evaluation of influence • The New Christian Right has been largely

New Christian Right Evaluation of influence • The New Christian Right has been largely unsuccessful • New moral majority makes 15% of US population (not a ‘majority’) • Found it difficult to cooperate with other religious groups • Dominant oppositional groups (e. g. Pro-choice) Steve Bruce • New Christian Right = Failed movement for social change • Didn't connect with the mainstream beliefs about democracy, equality and religious freedom (as Civil Rights Movement did)

Marxism, Religion and Change Marxists recognise that religious ideas can have relative autonomy (can

Marxism, Religion and Change Marxists recognise that religious ideas can have relative autonomy (can be partly independent from the economic base) so can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability • Marx - religion humanises a world that exploitation has made inhuman • Engels – religion inhibits change but can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change- fight against slavery

Marxism, Religion and Change • Ernst Bloch believed that religion could inspire protest and

Marxism, Religion and Change • Ernst Bloch believed that religion could inspire protest and rebellion. • Echoes Engels – inhibits change but can also challenge the status quo and encourage social change • Religion is an expression of the ‘principal of hope’ • Cast a vision of a better world and how this can be achieved (with political organisation leading to social change)

Liberation Theology • A movement that emerged in Latin America in the 1960 s

Liberation Theology • A movement that emerged in Latin America in the 1960 s within the Catholic Church. • Emerged in 1960 s, Catholic church, opposition to military dictatorships and commitment to helping the poor in Latin America. Arose due to three factors: 1. Deepening rural poverty 2. Human rights abuses by military dictatorships 3. Commitment of priests to ideology that supported HR and the poor

Liberation Theology Social Change • Priests harboured freedom fighters, developed literacy programmes, took the

Liberation Theology Social Change • Priests harboured freedom fighters, developed literacy programmes, took the sides of the oppressed and mobilised support. • It saw a major shift from encouraging acceptance of poverty and military dictatorships to opposing them and speaking out against the oppression of the poor. • Saw a move away in 1970 s for the Church from supporting elites and accepting poverty

Liberation Theology Impact of change • In 1980 s the Church’s official line changed

Liberation Theology Impact of change • In 1980 s the Church’s official line changed and it condemned liberation theory on the grounds that it resembled Marxism. • The priests had to concentrate on the pastoral activities – not political struggles. • The movement has since lost influence. • Most countries are now democracies and Catholicism has got more conservative. • Church still defends democracy and human rights

Liberation Theology Liberation theory has led Marxists to believe that religion can be a

Liberation Theology Liberation theory has led Marxists to believe that religion can be a force for social change. • Otto Maduro – religion can be a revolutionary force that brings about change. The religious ideas radicalised the clergy in the fight for the peasants and workers • Lowy used Liberation Theology to question Marx’s view that religion always legitimises social inequality

Millenarian movements • Millenarian movements are an example of the desire to change things

Millenarian movements • Millenarian movements are an example of the desire to change things on earth at present and bring about the kingdom of God • Millenarian movements expect the immanent transformation of this world by supernatural means. The group will be saved on earth and will live in utopia on earth – Peter Worsley • Worked well amongst poor, exploited groups, especially in the colonies Examples include Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Rastafarianism

Millenarian movements • Millenarian movements used traditional beliefs, ideas and images with Christianity •

Millenarian movements • Millenarian movements used traditional beliefs, ideas and images with Christianity • They united tribal movements and became mass movements • The were the precursor to the political movements to overthrow colonial rule • For Marxists they were the first awakening of the proletarian self consciousness

Religion and hegemony • Gramsci was interested in hegemony (how the government use ideas

Religion and hegemony • Gramsci was interested in hegemony (how the government use ideas to control society). • Hegemony – the way the ruling classes use ideas (e. g. religion) to control the working classes • Government have popular consent to rule so there is no need for coercion. • Catholic Church helped win support for Mussolini’s fascist regime.

Religion and hegemony • Hegemony isn't always guaranteed – WC can develop an alternative

Religion and hegemony • Hegemony isn't always guaranteed – WC can develop an alternative vision or a counter hegemony. • Religion has a dual culture that can challenge as well as support the ruling classes. - offers a vision of what can be - leaders support working class organisations, e. g. Trade Unions

Religion and class conflict Dwight Billings compared the Coalminers & Textile workers struggle. The

Religion and class conflict Dwight Billings compared the Coalminers & Textile workers struggle. The coalminers were more militant and forceful the textile workers more accepting and inactive. Coalminers & Textile workers struggle Leadership Organisation Support Religion can play an important role in effecting class struggle (other factors did play a part too)