...Here's an essay plan for.. "Assess the view that religion inhibits change". The studies with a "*" next to them are what I'd mention, but I've included the studies which would work. Paragraph 1 - Introduction - Give a definition of Social Change and state that the three founding fathers (Marx, Durkheim and Weber) were interested in social change. Paragraph 2 - Functionalism - I'd start by mentioning functionalism. Write a paragraph saying what it's about (organic analogy, socialisation, norms and values, etc). - Identify and explain some studies: -- Durkheim - Totem Poles -- Parsons - Core Values -- Malinowski - Life Crisis and Unpredictable Events* -- Civil Religions* - Link back by saying that due to religion being responsible for keeping norms and values running, society is unable to change. Therefore, functionalism inhibits change. AO2: Functionalism is sometimes considered too positive and ignores negative aspects of society such as oppression and conflict. Paragraph 3 - Marxism - Like Functionalism, Marxism states religion inhibits change. Write a little bit about Marxism and how it states that there is conflict between the middle and working classes. - Identify and explain some studies: -- Halvey -- Leech -- Hook -- Caste System* -- Camel Quote - "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven".* -- Divine Right of Kings* AO2: Neo-Marxism - Otto Maduro and Liberation Theology. Could...
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...Evaluate Marxist views on the role of religion today (33 marks) Marxism is a macro theory meaning it looks at the effect of religion on society rather than separate individuals. Being a conflict theory it views the institutions in society to maintain inequality and uphold ruling class dominance- religion is no exception. Religion is considered a tool of social control as it uses hegemony to control the masses and legitimize ruling class superiority- simply used to keep the current status quo existing. Marxists believe that religion acts as the opium of the masses; this refers to the fact that it distracts and dulls the pain of oppression for the disadvantaged and those who feel like second class citizens, such as women or the working class. One example of this is that in the bible, it orchestrates that the meek shall inherit the earth”; this allows people to believe that although they are suffering now they will be rewarded in the afterlife and thus they accept their situation. Another example is that the bible says, “Rich man at his castle, poor man at his gate, god placed them high and low, their state he bestowed.” These examples are used by the ruling class as a theodicy of disprivilege to justify their position to themselves as well as to the masses’ -It acts as a smokescreen and dampens revolutionary spirit, preventing any chances of a revolution. Traditional Marxists argue that the ruling class have complete control of the infrastructure, meaning they control the superstructure...
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...Paulo Freire, a Christian-Marxist In this paper, I will be addressing the topic of how Christianity and Marxism cannot be yoked together. Let me first state that the kind of Christianity Paulo Freire says he believes in, is Catholicism. The Catholic Church tends to have beliefs that are not completely true to the Word of God because they take some scripture out of context. I do not claim to be of any certain doctrine of Christianity; however, I do claim that I am a Bible believing Christian. Everything I believe comes directly from the Bible and without distorting its words; I believe exactly what it says. For this reason, I have a problem with Freire’s belief system. I believe Freire must pick either Christianity or Marxism. I think he is “riding the fence” on his choice of beliefs. If he continues to say he practices both, then he will always be questioning himself in more areas than one. When someone hears the combination of a Christian-Marxist, their first reaction will usually be “that’s an oxymoron,” or “that’s impossible.” How can they actually say they are Christian-Marxists, knowing that all they believe in is constantly contradicting itself? Freire will always, in my opinion, be questioning himself if, unless he looks into either one of the beliefs. Perhaps he will change his mind completely. After doing some research on Marxism, I do not believe Freire understands the full extent of it, which is why he believes himself to be Christian as well. In the article...
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...paradigms 2. Defining religion and measuring religiositySubstantive and functional definitionsGiddens' and Durkheim's definitionsWays of measuring religiosity (attendance figures, the census)Problems of measurement - Davie. 3. Functionalism and religionDurkheim, Parsons, Malinowski, BellahReligion as a conservative force 4. Marxism and religionMarx and EngelsReligion as a conservative force (Marx)Religion as an initiator of change (Engels) 5. Neo-Marxism and religionGramsci, Maduro, TurnerReligion as an initiator of change 6. Feminism and religionDe Beauvoir, El Saadawi, WatsonReligion as a conservative force 7. Weber and religionHistorical study - Calvinism, LutheranismModern view - rationalisationReligion as a past initiator of change 8. Postmodernism and religionLyon, Bauman 9. Religious fundamentalismDefinitions, examples, links to secularisation 10. Religious participationBy social group (age, ethnicity, gender and social class) 11. Religious organisationsChurch, cult, sect, denominationTroeltsch, Weber, Stark & BainbridgeWallis - NRMsReasons for NRM turnover 12. SecularisationArguments for - Wilson, Weber, Bruce (etc)Arguments against - Durkheim, Parsons, ArmstrongProblems of measuring secularisation - Davie NEW: my A2 students have produced brief summaries of some of the topics above. Here are their revision notes to help other students. Marxism and religion Marxism is seen as a social conflict perspective and Marxists such as Marx and Engels believe that religion is a tool of...
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...M Antonio Gramsci One of the most influential figures in the neo-Marxist reassessment of religion is the Italian, Antonio Gramsci. He rejected the traditional Marxist view that the cultural superstructure merely reflected society’s economic base. In his view, the superstructure is more autonomous and independent than Marx acknowledged, and beliefs are no less real or important than economic forces. For Gramsci, if the communist age were to come, it would require working-class action. But this action must be guided by theoretical ideas. And, just as intellectuals of the Roman Catholic Church had shaped the minds of its followers over centuries, so must the industrial working class produce its own intellectuals who can articulate working-class experience and help shape working-class consciousness. Gramsci was well aware of the control over consciousness, which the Catholic Church had traditionally exercised over its members. This control he referred to as hegemony. He was highly critical of what he regarded as the Church’s characteristic subservience to the state and ruling-class interests. Nevertheless, he did not assume that religion must inevitably play such a role. He argued that, at different historical times, popular forms of religion had emerged which expressed and supported the interests of oppressed classes. Thus, he accepted the possibility that religious beliefs and practices could develop and be popularised, particularly by working-class intellectuals, to challenge...
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...What is Marxism? Marxism is an economic and social system based upon the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. While it would take veritably volumes to explain the full implications and ramifications of the Marxist social and economic ideology, Marxism is summed up in the Encarta Reference Library as “a theory in which class struggle is a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies.” Marxism is the antithesis of capitalism which is defined by Encarta as “an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized by a free competitive market and motivation by profit.” Marxism is the system of socialism of which the dominant feature is public ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Under capitalism, the proletariat, the working class or “the people,” own only their capacity to work; they have the ability only to sell their own labor. According to Marx a class is defined by the relations of its members to the means of production. He proclaimed that history is the chronology of class struggles, wars, and uprisings. Under capitalism, Marx continues, the workers, in order to support their families are paid a bare minimum wage or salary. The worker is alienated because he has no control over the labor or product which he produces. The capitalists sell the products produced by the workers at a proportional value as related to the labor involved...
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...Religion can be both a conservative force and an initiator of social change”. To what extent to sociological arguments/evidence support this view. The view that religion acts as a conservative force stems from the structuralist theories of Functionalism and Marxism. Both see religion as facilitating the existence of society in its current form, although their views do differ substantially. For the Functionalist Emile Durkheim, religion, like many other social institutions, acts in the same way as one of the body’s vital organs, in that it “keeps society alive”. In other words, religion has a number of functions that serve the purpose of maintaining social stability and harmony. For example, functionalists believe that through the act of collective worship in the form of religious practices, religion helps bond and unite individuals; it acts as a “social glue” that promotes value consensus and social solidarity. Functionalists see religion as a conservative force in that it helps to integrate individuals and allows them to realise the “collective conscience” (a set of moral codes and values). In contrast, Marxists see religion as acting as a conservative force by preventing revolutionary change. In Marx’s words, “religion dampens the flames of working class revolution”; acting as an “opiate” which makes a life of ruling class oppression more bearable. For example, Engels claimed that the appeal of Christianity lies in the hope of “salvation from bondage and misery”. Those who...
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...Religion is one of the oldest institutions on Earth, and is therefore of key cultural and historical importance to a large group of people. However the real question is whether religion serves to benefit both the individual and society in this ever evolving postmodern world. One perspective that suggests that religion does serve to benefit both the individual and society as a whole is Functionalism, which believes that religion maintains value consensus by creating social solidarity and keeping social order in place. Marxism however believes religion creates class division in society, by acting as an “opium of the people” and a “spiritual gin”, which in turn creates the false class consciousness and illusory happiness, which leads to people being subordinate and not challenging their place in society, as religion helps to explain their place and maintains social order. A core argument from the Functionalist perspective, put forward by Durkheim, was society’s distinction between the “sacred” (things set apart,special,inspire feelings of awe and wonder) and the “profane” (things that have no special significance,ordinary or mundane). Durkheim argued that the reason why scared symbols or festivals in religion evoke such powerful feelings in individuals is because they represent a greater power, this in Durkheim’s opinion could only be society itself. Therefore in Durkheim's view when members of society are worshipping sacred symbols, they’re merely worshipping society and all...
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...How Far Is Religion a Conservative Force? (33 marks). In the views of functionalism, neo-functionalism, feminism, and Marxism, religion is a conservative force that prevents social change from happening and maintains the current status quo. Yet neo-Marxism and Weber contrast this view by saying religion is used as a force for social change, while post-modernism argues we have the ability to ‘pick and mix’ our religion with the growth of new-age religions. This is all then contrasted by fundamentalism, which looks to bring about social change to take society back to biblical traditions and values. Before we try and figure out if religion is a conservative force or not, we should first define the difference between substantive and functional definitions in sociology: substantive definitions are more concerned with looking at what makes religion distinctive, while functional definitions look at how it is that religion contributes to society as a whole. Starting with functionalism, this is supported by Durkheim, Malinowski and Parsons, this views religion as a conservative force. Durkheim split all items into two different categories: the sacred and the profane. The sacred items were ‘special, unworldly and forbidden’, while all other ‘normal’ objects were just profane, such as a chair. Specifically, Durkheim focused his research on the Aborigines. He found that their Totems were sacred (a Totem was a carved animal), and they were often carved from bull roar wood, the most sacred...
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...Intro Assess the contribution of Marxism to our understanding of families and household. Marxism is the political and economic theory formed by Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels. “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” – Karl Marx He is trying to say religion is the drug of people. It’s what keeps them alive in these wretched times. The oppressed creatures are the lower classed people forced to work every day just to feed their families. The heartless world are the capitalist, the selfish rich people who have never labored a day in their life. The soulless conditions therefore become the terrible conditions under which the poor have to work in. Marx is trying to show the system of hierarchy in the quote. Religion is the only thing the poor can hold on to, it can’t be taken away from them. Religion is the escape to find hope and salvation in the sense that one day they don’t have to work under the rich people. Marxism is the theoretical debate on understanding of different classes in society, taking as its starting point the necessary economic activities required by everyday people to provide for their material needs. Engels and zaretskys view will be discussed as well as the new rights, functionalists and Marxist feminists. Friedrich Engels Engels (1820-1895) was a German social scientist as well as becoming the joint father of Marxism. He had his own view of the theory...
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...The foundational ideology and primary origins of fascism can be said to stem from absolutism. Absolutism was established to grant the monarchy full power over Europe which would centralize power with virtually no opposition, while fascism was the idea of awarding one leader with all power who would rule with no opposition. Absolutism and fascism were both undemocratic and anti-communist, however, Marxism in contrast, highlighted the importance of freedom and equal rights. In comparison, fascism and absolutism held similar views on religion. Both views held that church and politics should be separate, while maintaining the singular religious importance of the church. This paper will compare and contrast the power structure and views of religion of absolutism with...
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...3005 6/26/14 The question was asked if Global society was mainly shaped by the ideas of the Enlightenment period rather than other world views i.e. religion in the 1900. I do not believe Global society was mainly shaped by Enlightenment ideas rather than religion, however I do believe that this movement has had impact on society. The Enlightenment era was based on theories that reject religion. They views of answering to a higher calling and worshipping someone who is unseen. Enlightenment theorist believed that man made their own destiny. They believed that man could make their own rules to govern themselves instead of biblical beliefs and conducts. Enlightenment was brought on by the age of science. It originated in European countries. According to “Ways of the World” Robert Strayer states Growing numbers of people believe that the long-term outcome of scientific development would be “Enlightenment” a term that has come to define the eighteenth century in European history. If human reason could discover the laws that governed the universe, surely it could uncover ways in which humankind might govern itself more effectively” (745). Enlightenment theorist discourages religions views and encourage gaining knowledge to evolve human society. They didn’t believe in superstition, politics and corruption of established religion. According to Stayer “The central theme of Enlightenment and what mad it potentially revolutionary was the idea of progress. Human society was not fixed...
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...Function of Religion Is to Promote Social Stability – (33 Marks) The main sociologists that support the view that the main functions of religious beliefs is to promote social stability are functionalists. They believe that religion performs functions and helps society, this is because society’s most basic need is the need for social order and solidarity so that its members can cooperate and to do this there needs to be value consensus, which without this individuals in society would pursue their own selfish desires and society would disintegrate. One functionalist that supports this argument is Durkheim which he states that religion and its institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity. He distinguishes the difference between the sacred and the profane. He says that the sacred are the things set apart and forbidden that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder and are surrounded by taboos and prohibitions. By contrast, the profane are things that have no special significance. Therefore a religion is never simply a set of beliefs. It also involves definite rituals or practices on relation to the sacred and these rituals are collective which are performed by social groups. The fact that sacred things create such powerful feelings, Durkheim suggests this is because they are symbols representing something of great power and he says that this great power is society itself. Even though sacred symbols vary from religion to religion...
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...Sociologists approach the study of society in different ways. Two concepts of society are functionalism and Marxism. Functionalists believe that different parts of society work together to keep the society running whereas Marxists believe societies are unequal and unfair. Both concepts differ in their views of how society operates for instance a Marxist would claim that there are only 2 classes and it is very hard to progress up a class whereas a functionalist would disagree and claim the harder you work, the more you achieve and the better your social position. Functionalists believe society works like a human body for instance every part of society works to keep it going just like organs in a body and that the human body grows and develops as does society. They also believe that society is more important than the individual and that social institutions exist in order to keep the social order. For example the education system socialises us into the culture of society and this provides us with our values which support the society. A Marxist would disagree with this view, they see social institutions being used by the ruling class to control the working class and that education give people their values which support the bourgeoisie exploitation. For example in a child’s learning life they are taught to strictly obey rules which follows them into working life. Functionalists also believe in meritocracy which is if you work harder, you get further. For example someone born...
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...According to Eatwell and Wright (Eatwell, Wright. 1999, pg. 104) Marxism is the theory of communism the practice- or else that both are perplexing mixtures of theory and practice. The history of Marxism is essentially the history of putting theories into practice to solve practical problems. which in turn promotes the continuous development of human society. Its impact far exceeds its theoretical scope and significance and an important reason lies in the fact that Marxism originates from practice, guides the practice and is developed in the practice. Karl Marx is considered by many to have been the greatest thinker and philosopher of all time. His idea on life, society and social structure revolutionized the ways in which people think and still holds much relevance in today’s society. Although there were many downfalls within his thinking he still set out the basis of Communism within Russia. Marx drew distinctions between the bases of his own contemporaries and his own scientific theory of which he believed were firmly rooted within society. He believed that social change was needed in order to achieve a better society for everyone and in order to achieve social change there must be class conflict. Marx’s major concern for social change was economic change and his most famous work dealt with the issues of class conflict and the opposition between the capitalists/bourgeoisie and the working class. During that time it was the bourgeoisie who were responsible for the controlling...
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