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‘Religion may encourage rather than inhibit social change’
Many sociologists have found some form of correlation between religion and social change,
some argue that religion inhibits social change and others state that it may bring about a
change, in particularly in contemporary society. The work of G.K Nelson supports the above
view as he pointed out a number of cases where religion has encouraged stability and
promoted change. In his claim he shows how in the USA (1960’s) Martin Luther King and the
Christian council worked together as a team to establish civil rights legislation and reduce
racial discrimination. Another example is in Iran, where the Islamic fundamentalist played a
major role in encouraging the 1979 revolution. All these examples show how religion does
not always encourage people to accept their place in contemporary society, but can promote
resistance and revolution. And often it has been found that in areas where religion has been
used as a force to demand change, the society that results is strongly influenced by that
religion. Again this shows how strong the influence of religion is in changing social norms and
in society overall.
Engel who argues that sometimes in some circumstances religion is used as a force for
change has also supported the work of Nelson. He also states that groups who turn to religion
as a way of coping with oppression and disasters of life. Use religion to demand change on
earth rather than salvation on heaven. Some of Engel’s work have been developed by
contemporary Neo-Marxist, who believe that ‘religion has some independence…. from the
economic system of the bourgeoisies’. Maduro denies the claim that religion is always used
as a conservative force – as claimed by Marxist, but that it can be revolutionary and
sometimes it is the ‘only available channel to bring about’ change. For example recently in
Latin America, Catholic priests demonstrated how the bourgeoisies used religion to justify
inequality, and criticised them and therefore acted against all their interest. This example
shows that when oppressed groups are willing to put an end to their grievance, the church
can help to revolutionise their situation by criticising the rich and powerful and demanding
changes.
Turner’s – material theory of religion shows how religion in the feudal time had a major
impact on the lives of the ruling classes. And without religion at the time it would have been
difficult to decide which member of the family inherited the landlord possessions. And as a
result of this Turner does not always believe that religion has a universal role in society and
that religion is always used by the ruling class to promote their ideology.
Other sociologists such as Robinson argue that in some circumstances religion is used
intentionally to revolutionise changes in society. He states in order for this attempt to work
that certain situations and circumstances are necessary such as: the group with the ability to
change social norms need ‘to have a predominately religious world view’. And he suggested
that in countries like Europe revolutionary movement do not often use religion, as the country
is not so religious. But in the cases of the third world countries – this is often the well-known
method of attempt to change society. Robinson goes on to discuss that in order for religion to
promote change it needs to be theology, so that it can be interpreted in a way that it can be
used against those in power. And that it is extremely important for the clergy and the
revolutionary group to have a maintained and close contact. These clearly show that in a
situation where these three factors are present, revolutionary groups are able to use religion
to demand change. And this is even more effective in countries where the revolutionary
groups all share same religious ideas and this is different to the ideas of those in power.
The work of Weber also shows how religion can lead to social change. Weber discourages the
belief that religion is always shaped by economic factors. And that religious believes can be a
major influence on economic behaviour. Weber’s social action theory states that humans are
directed by meanings and motives and so religion is often used to direct action. This is because
religion gives humans a detailed understanding and meaning of the world. This statement
shows just how social groups turn to religion to guide their actions and as a result can be used
to cause change in society. Weber’s view explored a range of detailed examples where religion
has been used to promote change- in particular where capitalism developed initially in areas
dominated by religious values. However Weber’s examples and views refer more to the
traditional aspects of society such as the feudal system rather than the contemporary society
– which is the focus of this essay. Nevertheless his views are successful in terms that it
highlights the theoretical points that religious ideas lead to economic change.
However, despite the enormous evidence provided that religion can and does lead to changes
in
contemporary society. Other sociologists have found some evidence that contradicted
these findings and have shown that it is social changes in society as a whole that lead to
changes in religion. Sociologists Marxist, Functionalists and Feminist all dismiss the idea that
religion can cause changes in society. And believe that it is changes in society that shape
religion. From Marxist and Feminist view religion is a conservative force as it maintains the
status quo – which means that it also maintains traditional beliefs. For example the Roman
Catholic view against the use of contraception is believed to have restricted the growth of
artificial methods of birth control in Roman Catholic countries. Marxists also believe that
change in the infrastructure of society lead to changes in the superstructure. And this is often
through the power of the ruling class who form norms that would maintain their status and
oppress the working class. Marxists also believe that when communism appears to replace
capitalism that religion would begin to disappear – this provides direct evidence that changes in
society cause changes in religion.
From a Functionalist view – Parsons believes that as society develops religion will begin to
lose its vital functions. Turner also supports this view by stating that religion began to
decline when generations have given way to capitalism and abandoned feudalism.
Evidence has also shown that the domination of industrialisation has led to changes that
dramatically reduced the importance of religion. From these points of views it appears that
religion helps to maintain status quo
and secondly, changes in religion are a result of
changes in society.
In conclusion, ‘the question is no longer how does religion promote social change’ but rather ‘
in what ways and under what conditions does it promote rather than inhibit change?’- This is
the statement made by McGuire in her work. McGuire examined some of the factors that
influence the role of religion plays in society. She identified four factors that would answer the
above question and determine the extend the to which religion can change society. These
factors are belief, culture, social location and internal organisation. Belief refers to the belief
of the religion. If a religion stresses the importance of equality then it is more likely to have an
impact than a religion based on sacred and spiritual matters (Buddhism). If a religion plays a
major role in terms of culture of a particular group, than it is more likely to justify changes in
society. Social location concerns with whether the religion plays a major role in the political
and economic life, and then it is likely to produce change. And finally internal organisation
stresses the importance of a central source of authority. The greater the importance of the
authority the more likely the society is liable to change.
This work is highly valuable to the argument here as her work outlines the factors, which
determine whether religion acts as a conservative force – maintaining status quo, or as a
force for change. This shows that in a situation that demands changes if these factors are
lacking change is less likely to be successful. Most importantly this work provides a strong
starting point for analysing and interpreting the relationship between religion and social
change.