Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess the contribution of religion to social change (18 marks)

Bruce was interested in the relationship between religion and social change he compaired two examples of religiously inspired protests movements in the USA, the civil rights movement and the new Christian right.
According to Bruce the black civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s was an example of religiously motivated social change.

Bruce sees religion as an ideological resource; it provides beliefs and practices that protesters could draw on for motivation and support. In the civil rights movement Bruce argues religion was supportive and contributed to social change in the following ways. Taking the moral high ground, challenging dissent, acting an honest broker, mobilising public opinion.
So for Bruce, religion can become involved in non religious struggle and help to bring about change.

Some sociologists have argued that religion prevents social change and may even be used as a tool to ensure that the status quo remains in place. Conservative force may mean two different things, preventing change and maintaining the status quo and traditional beliefs and customs. So in some cases religion can support social change while at the same time promote traditional values.

Social changes may lead to changes in religion too.
Parsons suggested that as the family and Education developed during the 19th and 20th centuries, religion lost some of its functions. Schools became the educators and families the carers.
Marx argued if there were changes in the infrastructure in society then there would be changes to the supernatural. He argued that when capitalism was replaced with communism there would be no need for religion, so it would disappear.
some sociologists argue that industrialisation has progressiviely reduced the importance of religion.
some sociologist argue that as society has become postmodern and global, religion has had to change. Kautsky reflects rather than causes change in society.  

Some Marxists do not see religion as an entirely conservative force, despite what they have been led to think.
They recognise the relative autonomy of religion – that is that religion can be a partly independent of the economic base.

So religion has a dual character. It can sometimes be a force for change and sometimes be a conservative force.

Even Marx believed that religion can be a positive force as it provides comfort for those who are oppressed, even if it is illusory.

Friedrich Engels argued that religion inhabits change by disguising inequality, but it can also challenge the status quo and encourage change.

Ernst Bloch (1959) – argued that religion has a positive and negative influence on social change.

Religion is an expression of the ‘principal of hope’ – our dreams of a better life (Utopia)

These images of Utopia can sometimes deceive people with promises of rewards in the after life.

However they may also help people to see what is wrong in the world and create a vision of a better world.

There was evidence for dual character of religion called the liberation movement. Liberal theology set out to change society.

Priests took the lead in educating the poor about their situation.

During the 1970’s, Catholic priests resisted ‘state terror’ (when the state goes against its own people) and were the only ones to take the side of the oppressed.

In Christianity, Millenarian Movements refers to the idea that Christ would come to the world for a second time and rule for a thousand years.

These movements are example of religion having the potential to bring about change, as they desire the total transformation of this world by supernatural means.

They largely appeal to the poor because they promise immediate improvement.

Worsey studied Cargo cults in Melanesia. He argued that cults included elements of Christianity such as ideas of a heaven where the righteous would be rewarded. The cult members were deprived as their cargo was being given to white people. This social injustice was overthrown in 1950s because of millenarian movements, showing that they could cause social change.

Gramsci believed in hegemony which means the way the ruling class are able to use ideas such as religion to maintain control, rather than force.

When ideological domination or leadership is established the ruling class don’t need top reply on force to maintain their rule.

For example, during the 1920s and 1930s the ideological power of the catholic church helped win support for Mussolini’s fascist regime.

However hegemony is never guaranteed.

The working class may develop an alternative vision for society.

Gramsci sees religion having a dual character and he notes that in some cases it can challenge and support the ruling class.

Billings (1990) did a study on religion and class conflict – which was the Case of Coalminers and textiles workers in Kentucky

Both the miners and the textile workers were working class evangelical Protestants but experienced different levels of strike action in the 20s and 30s.

The miners were militant / aggressive in their protest and wanted recognition for their union and better conditions whereas the textile workers were uncomplaining and accepted their status quo

Billings argued that the difference could be explained in terms of hegemony and the role of religion.
He described how religion can either support or challenge the employer’s hegemonyThe miners had leadership from colleagues who were also lay preachers who helped to convert workers to the union cause. Whereas the textile workers did not have this leadership.

The miners were able to use churches to hold meetings but the textile workers did not have this.

Churches kept the miners confidence high with supportive sermons e.g. texts from the Bible, but the textile workers met opposition from churches, branding them communists.

Moreover, Billing does recognise that religion was not the only factor that played a role. The fact that miners relied on each other for safety gave them a stronger sense of solidarity in opposing their employers

A prominent oppositional role

His study shows that religion can be used to defend the status quo or to justify the struggle to change it. Billings concludes that religion can play a prominent oppositional role.

Overall religion does not always uphold traditional beliefs and functions to maintain the status quo. Both economic and religious factors have been found to play a role in bringing about social change. There is a contribution of religion to social change, however not all religious movements are successful in bringing about social change and whether religion helps to bring about social change or to inhibit social chance varies according to social and historical conditions.