Outline and explain three ways religion can bring about change (9 marks)

Firstly, Neo-Marxists highlight how religion can act as a force for change, rather than acting as ‘opium’, as outlined by traditional Marxists. Indeed, Maduro argues that religion has some independence from the ruling class and can indeed act as a revolutionary force that can bring about change in society. Indeed, the example of Liberation Theology in South America highlights times when religion can bring about change, this was when Catholic Priests channeled the concerns of the poor, and pressed for social change, using their religious doctrines and teachings as focal points of justification.

Secondly, fundamentalist religions can bring about change. Fundamentalists believe that a set of religious beliefs have been watered down or is under threat. They are opposed to the decline of those beliefs and wish to return to the original, basic, or fundamentalist beliefs of their religion. Fundamentalism can be seen as a response to changes, since fundamentalists seek to reverse changes that have already taken place in society or religion. It is therefore seen as a radical force as it seeks social change. For example, the New Christian Right, a Protestant fundamentalist group in the USA. They are radical Christians with a large following supporting a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Thirdly, Weber highlights that religion can bring about change, in terms of economic advancements, using the example of Calvinism and how it brought about social change as it helped promote capitalism through its beliefs and ideas. Calvinists believed in predestination and had no way of knowing whether they were one of the ‘saved’ or ‘chosen ones’. The solution to this was to partake in ‘intense worldly activity’, since hard work and material success were seen as religious virtues and a likely sign of being one of God’s chosen. Their doctrines emphasized values and virtues like hard work, trade, profit and punctuality and the avoidance of idleness, time wasting and self-indulgence. Weber argued that this ‘Protestant work ethic’ was a major reason why capitalism developed first in Western Europe.