21 Jul 2020 at 11:28
Religion and Social Protest
Steve Bruce is interested in the relationship between religion and social change.
Two examples of the role of religiously inspired protests movements in America that have tried to change society:
1. The civil rights movement
2. The New Christian Right
The American Civil Rights Movement
Steve Bruce describes the end of racial segregation as an example of religiously motivated social change.
Slavery had been abolished in 1865, blacks were denied legal and political rights in many southern states where
segregation was enforced, preventing them from using the same amenities (such as buses, shops and toilets) as
whites.
Schools were segregated and inter-racial marriages forbidden. Blacks were often excluded from voting by various
legal restrictions and intimidation.
The civil rights movement began in 1955 when Rosa Parks, a black civil rights activist in Montgomery, Alabama,
refused to sit at the back of a bus, as blacks were expected to do.
Campaigning involved direct action by black people themselves, including protest marches, boycotts and
demonstrations. Almost a decade later, in 1964, segregation was outlawed.
Bruce describes the black clergy as the backbone of the movement. Led by Dr Martin Luther King, they played a
decisive role, giving support and moral legitimacy to civil rights activists.
Their churches provided meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and rituals such as prayer
meetings and hymn singing were a source of unity in the face of oppression.
Bruce argues that the black clergy were able to shame whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared
Christian values of equality. Although the impact on white clergy in the south was limited, their message reached a
wide audience outside the southern states and gained national support.
Bruce sees religion in this context as an ideological resource.
Using the civil rights movement as an example, he identifies several ways in which religious organisations are well-
equipped to support protests and contribute to social change.
• Taking the moral high ground: Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached "love
thy neighbour" but supported racial segregation.
• Channelling dissent: Religion provides channels to express political dissent.
◦ For example - the funeral of Martin Luther King was a rallying point for the civil right cause.
• Acting as honest broker: Churches can provide a context for negotiating change because they are often
respected by both sides in conflict and seen as standing above "mere politics."
• Mobilising public opinion: Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the
whole of America.
Bruce sees the civil rights movement as an example of religion becoming involved in secular struggle and helping to
bring about change.
The movement achieved its aims because it shared the same values as wider society and those in power. It brought
about change by shaming those in power to put in to practice the principle of equality embodied in the American
Constitution that all men and women are born equal.
The New Christian Right
, It has gained prominence since the 1960s because of its opposition to the liberalising of American society.
The aims of the New Christian Right seek to take America ‘back to God’ and make abortion, homosexuality, gay
marriage and divorce illegal, turning the clock back to a time before the liberalisation of American culture and
society.
They believe strongly in the traditional family and traditional gender roles. It campaigns for the teaching of
‘creationism’ (the view that the Bible’s account of creation is literally true) and to ban sex education in schools.
Has made effective use of media and networking, notably televangelism, where church-owned television stations
raise funds and broadcast programmes aimed at making converts and recruiting new members.
Right-wing Christian pressure groups have also become the focus for political campaigning and for strengthening
links with the Republican Party.
However, the New Christian Right has been largely unsuccessful in achieving its aims. Bruce suggests these
reasons:
• Its campaigners find it very difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when
campaigning on the same issue, such as abortion.
• It lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of
choice.
Bruce describes the New Christian Right as a failed movement for change. The movement has not achieved its aim
of taking America "back to God". In his view it is an attempt to impose Protestant fundamentalist mortality on
others has failed because of the basically liberal and democratic values of most of American society. These values
include a belief in the separation of church and state - very few Americans support the idea of a theocracy (rule by
religious leaders)
Marxism, religion and change
Marxists thought of as seeing religion as an entirely conservative ideology - a set of ruling - class ideas that are
shaped by and legitimate the class inequalities in society's economic base.
Marxists realise that religion can have a dual character and can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability.
• he does not see religion in entirely negative terms.
• he describes it as:
•
the soul of soulless conditions" and the "heart of a heartless world
•
• he sees religion as capable of humanising a world made inhuman by exploitation.
Engels takes on the idea that religion is a dual character.
• he argues that although religion inhibits change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status quo
and encourage social change.
◦ religion sometimes preaches liberation from slavery and misery.
◦ lower ranks within the church hierarchy have often supported or even inspired and organised popular
protest
Bloch: the principle of hope
• sees religion as a dual character
• he recognises the positive and negative influence on social change.
Religion and Social Protest
Steve Bruce is interested in the relationship between religion and social change.
Two examples of the role of religiously inspired protests movements in America that have tried to change society:
1. The civil rights movement
2. The New Christian Right
The American Civil Rights Movement
Steve Bruce describes the end of racial segregation as an example of religiously motivated social change.
Slavery had been abolished in 1865, blacks were denied legal and political rights in many southern states where
segregation was enforced, preventing them from using the same amenities (such as buses, shops and toilets) as
whites.
Schools were segregated and inter-racial marriages forbidden. Blacks were often excluded from voting by various
legal restrictions and intimidation.
The civil rights movement began in 1955 when Rosa Parks, a black civil rights activist in Montgomery, Alabama,
refused to sit at the back of a bus, as blacks were expected to do.
Campaigning involved direct action by black people themselves, including protest marches, boycotts and
demonstrations. Almost a decade later, in 1964, segregation was outlawed.
Bruce describes the black clergy as the backbone of the movement. Led by Dr Martin Luther King, they played a
decisive role, giving support and moral legitimacy to civil rights activists.
Their churches provided meeting places and sanctuary from the threat of white violence, and rituals such as prayer
meetings and hymn singing were a source of unity in the face of oppression.
Bruce argues that the black clergy were able to shame whites into changing the law by appealing to their shared
Christian values of equality. Although the impact on white clergy in the south was limited, their message reached a
wide audience outside the southern states and gained national support.
Bruce sees religion in this context as an ideological resource.
Using the civil rights movement as an example, he identifies several ways in which religious organisations are well-
equipped to support protests and contribute to social change.
• Taking the moral high ground: Black clergy pointed out the hypocrisy of white clergy who preached "love
thy neighbour" but supported racial segregation.
• Channelling dissent: Religion provides channels to express political dissent.
◦ For example - the funeral of Martin Luther King was a rallying point for the civil right cause.
• Acting as honest broker: Churches can provide a context for negotiating change because they are often
respected by both sides in conflict and seen as standing above "mere politics."
• Mobilising public opinion: Black churches in the South successfully campaigned for support across the
whole of America.
Bruce sees the civil rights movement as an example of religion becoming involved in secular struggle and helping to
bring about change.
The movement achieved its aims because it shared the same values as wider society and those in power. It brought
about change by shaming those in power to put in to practice the principle of equality embodied in the American
Constitution that all men and women are born equal.
The New Christian Right
, It has gained prominence since the 1960s because of its opposition to the liberalising of American society.
The aims of the New Christian Right seek to take America ‘back to God’ and make abortion, homosexuality, gay
marriage and divorce illegal, turning the clock back to a time before the liberalisation of American culture and
society.
They believe strongly in the traditional family and traditional gender roles. It campaigns for the teaching of
‘creationism’ (the view that the Bible’s account of creation is literally true) and to ban sex education in schools.
Has made effective use of media and networking, notably televangelism, where church-owned television stations
raise funds and broadcast programmes aimed at making converts and recruiting new members.
Right-wing Christian pressure groups have also become the focus for political campaigning and for strengthening
links with the Republican Party.
However, the New Christian Right has been largely unsuccessful in achieving its aims. Bruce suggests these
reasons:
• Its campaigners find it very difficult to cooperate with people from other religious groups, even when
campaigning on the same issue, such as abortion.
• It lacks widespread support and has met with strong opposition from groups who stand for freedom of
choice.
Bruce describes the New Christian Right as a failed movement for change. The movement has not achieved its aim
of taking America "back to God". In his view it is an attempt to impose Protestant fundamentalist mortality on
others has failed because of the basically liberal and democratic values of most of American society. These values
include a belief in the separation of church and state - very few Americans support the idea of a theocracy (rule by
religious leaders)
Marxism, religion and change
Marxists thought of as seeing religion as an entirely conservative ideology - a set of ruling - class ideas that are
shaped by and legitimate the class inequalities in society's economic base.
Marxists realise that religion can have a dual character and can sometimes be a force for change as well as stability.
• he does not see religion in entirely negative terms.
• he describes it as:
•
the soul of soulless conditions" and the "heart of a heartless world
•
• he sees religion as capable of humanising a world made inhuman by exploitation.
Engels takes on the idea that religion is a dual character.
• he argues that although religion inhibits change by disguising inequality, it can also challenge the status quo
and encourage social change.
◦ religion sometimes preaches liberation from slavery and misery.
◦ lower ranks within the church hierarchy have often supported or even inspired and organised popular
protest
Bloch: the principle of hope
• sees religion as a dual character
• he recognises the positive and negative influence on social change.
