SOCI 377: The Sociology of Religion PDF

SOCI 377 -The Sociology of ReligionDr. Gbenga Adejare Department of Sociology Faculty of Arts Recap of Previous Lesson Previously, We discussed the elements that drive the persistence of religion over time We highlighted such elements as community, demography, among others 2 Lesson Focus Today, we t...

SOCI 377 -The Sociology of ReligionDr. Gbenga Adejare Department of Sociology Faculty of Arts Recap of Previous Lesson Previously, We discussed the elements that drive the persistence of religion over time We highlighted such elements as community, demography, among others 2 Lesson Focus Today, we turn attention to: The notion of religion as a force for social change as well as religion as a conservative force How does religion facilitate social change or reinforce and maintain societal values and traditions? What might the advent of new religions, sects, cults, and others tell us about the relationship between religion and the society? What are some of the dimensions of ‘state religions’, for instance, and how has it been influential to how society changes? 3 Introduction: Religion as a conservative force or a force for social change? Sociology scholars argue that the role of religion in society broadly falls within two categories: As a conservative force, or, As a force for social change However, could we in fact speak of a third category? A blend maybe? 4 Religion as a conservative force Religion as a conservative force speaks to how religion serves to keep happenings in the society as the same. This view argues that religion serves to reinforce and maintain the social order and serve as a force for stability in the society. Sociologists such as Karl Marx, functionalist theorists, feminist theorists, among others, argue that religion is importantly traditional and serves to uphold the society’s traditional customs and beliefs particularly in terms of how society should be run Gender roles ( feminists see religion as an oppressive tool used by men), working conditions of the working class, etc. In this way, religion as a conservative force therefore legitimates the status quo 5 Religion as a conservative force(cont’d) Discussion point How might we explain religion as a conservative force in the light of some fundamentalist groups who argue for a reversal of social changes so that they can ‘return’ their society to what it was in the ‘traditional era’? Example: Islamic movements such as the Islamic state that seeks to return society to a more religious era The view that religion is the preserve of a few who have the ‘authority’ (whether bestowed upon them or imagined) to interpret the religious culture to the wider society. 6 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) For Emile Durkheim and Bronisław Malinowski, religion is used to reinforce societal norms and values, as well as to encourage social solidarity. Durkheim argues that religion is importantly about the sacred and the profane While the profane is about ordinary and daily mundane things that have no specific significance, the sacred refers to things set apart, things extraordinary that call for reverence, and which often inspire feelings of awe, fear or even a sense of prohibition. 7 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) Things regarded as sacred are set apart from society and could include the spiritual sites, church buildings, mosques, etc. The sacred unites people and creates a collective consciousness of shared norms and values, that everyone buys into, thereby creating a community where no one wants to deviate from. According to Durkheim, this single moral community breeds solidarity which is an important part of the social system. It encourages social control and interrelatedness, and this solidarity thus resists social change since people do not want to move away from their shared social norms and values 8 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) Durkheim studied the Aboriginal people of Australia and found that every clan owned and worshipped a totem. The totem was regarded as something sacred. Durkheim argued that the worship of the totem (what he called Totemism) was in fact worship of society itself. This was because members of the clans placed more value on the society rather than on individuals themselves. In doing so, Durkheim argued that religion acts as a root of solidarity. 9 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) For Malinowski, while supporting Marx that religion drives social solidarity, he argues that religion importantly serves psychological functions which help people deal with emotional stress that could otherwise threaten social order and stability. He argues that events such as funerals, where people gather to mourn the loss and departure of a loved one, help to reinforce social solidarity In helping people deal with situations that cause emotional stress, religion, according to Malinowski helps to maintain social order, and get rid of emotions that could cause change 10 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) For Marx, religion does not have a positive outlook. He argues that religion contributes to maintaining the class structure by discouraging people from making demands that could lead to social change. Marx argues that religion keeps the working class in a state of false consciousness that does not allow them to realise the unfairness and inequalities that exist in the society. As such, the working class are unable to revolt or call for social change 11 Religion as a conservative force (cont’d) Marx also argues that religion serves to promote belief in the afterlife which gives people the hope to look forward to something that is to come hereafter. As such, it promote the idea that if one suffers now, there is hope of eternal bliss after death. One could use the example of the working class here: If the working class work very hard, obey the rules dutifully and do not challenge the capitalist system, they will receive their reward in heaven. It is better to be a good Christian, and look forward to reward in the afterlife than struggle for a revolution 12 Religion as a force for social change (cont’d) Despite scholars who argue that religion serves as a conservative force, there are those, influenced by the work of Max Weber who argue that religion importantly encourages society to change. For Max Weber, religion serves as a force for social change. He argued that we could not understand the development of capitalism without a comprehensive analysis of the Protestant ethic (Weber, 1958) 13 Religion as a force for social change (cont’d) Weber argued that religion created a capitalist work ethic which in turn led to social change Weber argues that Calvinism, a branch of Protestantism brought about the social change of capitalism in Western Europe in the 17th Century Calvinism advocates the principle of predestination. Predestination is the idea that God has already pre-decided whether one would go to Heaven or not, even before the person was born. 14 Religion as a force for social change (cont’d) Predestination also believed that the harder one works on earth, the greater their chances of being selected to go to Heaven. This saw the early Calvinist live frugal lives, and this idea created in them the ethic of a strict life of discipline and hard work, which is the spirit of capitalism. There are many religious organizations that actively advocate for social change For example, The American Civil Rights movement is an example of how religion can serve as a force for social change. Martin Luther King and the Baptist church advocated and called for an end to racial segregation in the United States 15 Religion as a force for social change (cont’d) The Arab Spring movement from 2010-2012 is another useful example of how religion drives social change. It saw several religious groups calling for change against undemocratic rule and other social injustices In this way, religion serves as a force for social change 16 What do you think? Could religion in fact function both as a conservative force and as a force for social change? Or could it only function as one or the other? 17