Many theories, such as the Marxist theories, see religion as maintaining the status quo and preventing social change. Religions have also often been supporters of traditional conservative values, especially in relation to the family and sexuality, for example. However, many sociologists argue that religion can also be a powerful force for social change. This essay will look at how religion can prevent social change and how it can act as a force for social change. Sociologists have argued that religion can be a force for social change.
The people had a goal to reach equality for all, in article three Noah Webster stated "Equality is the very soul of the republic." Chapter 6 is full of evidence of Americans struggling for equality, especially through religion and voting rights. The honorable way the people rebelled to gain their freedom is what made this revolution a revolutionary movement. The primary consequence of the American Revolution was expanding religious freedom. Before the revolution, people were living
Martin Luther King Jr. helped shape the society we live today and continues to have an influence on civil rights reforms today. Many philanthropic groups have formed to carry out the visions inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. such as The King Center, NAACP and the National Civil Rights Museum. I believe that Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement represented a positive social change on American society today. Without them, society today would not be what it is today; People would not be able to walk proud and live in peace and equality and be happy with who they were regardless of race. While I still feel that society has a long way to go in regards to discrimination of race I feel that we have also come a long way.
Religion as a force for social change There is a constant and great debating concerning the role of religion in society. Whereas some claim that religion acts as a conservative force, suggesting that in fact inhibits change. Others would argue that religion is a major contributor to social change. As expected many sociologists have taken the middle ground and argue that religion is in fact both a conservative force and an initiator of change. The view that religion is a conservative force stems from theories from Functionalists, Marxists and Feminists.
“[The church] should be purified of their unregenerate members…heretical clergymen…bishops and archbishops, but they were nevertheless churches and must be embraced as churches” (Morgan 31). These non-separating Puritans made it their goal to create a superlative Christian community in the New World. In doing so they hoped to serve as an example to encourage reform within the Church of England. Morgan, author of The Puritan Dilemma, describes the non-separating Puritans overall view of the Church of England to be more positive than negative. “[The church] had bought the means of salvation to many of their members and might still do so” (Morgan 31).
On those premise it is asserted that religion play an important part in nurturing the virtue needed for a free society. Matthew Spaulding’s Meaning of religion and Liberty, asserts this about religion and morality: “They aid good government by teaching men their moral obligations and creating the condition for decent politics” (p313.2008). While not everyone morality depends on religion, I do believe and support argument that religion is necessary to morality. The religious principles speak to morality and morality aid virtue. Outside of the realm of government if we look at our society today many of our moral have changed.
The main motive that pushed the Europeans to migrate to America was the search of a better life, one free of troublesome, one with religious freedom and one that they can succeed in. http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view_print.php?book=6522). History texts places a huge responsibility on Religion being the biggest motive for the Europeans moving to America being that in Europe there was a single state of religion that had to be practiced by all. Although, religious freedom was key to the Puritans, Quakers, Catholics, and Baptists that migrated to America, it was by no means the sole factor as seemingly suggested in many textbooks. Settlers continued to come to the America colonies, Scotch-Irish and Swiss settlers came, too, in search of a better life, wanting to have land of their own and enough food to fill their hungry stomachs.
In his view, the Church's first and foremost goal isn't the individual experience, but rather the ability for humans to create the Kingdom of God on earth. For Raushenbusch this could be done through what he called the “social gospel.” “Since the Kingdom is the supreme end of God, it must be the purpose for which the church exists.”[7] By living each day in love, humans should theoretically be able to live like Jesus Christ and in turn reform society. This focus was influenced by many factors. One prevalent factor, which led to this sense of urgency toward social reform, was the migration of the population. In Emerson's time, the majority of American citizens lived in rural areas.
Some of the policies implemented helped in influencing the adults, who lived a better life and were an example to the younger generation who looked up to them. Individual’s lives’ became comfortable as they upheld strong moral values that required people to live according to religious teachings about the bible. In addition, the elected leaders directed people according to Bible teachings. As a result of these people began trusting the government again because assisting in restoring morals in the United States such as stopping the ac of abortion, homosexuality, and promiscuity. American Lifestyles changed significantly around the 1980s.
A change is gonna come: Building positive resources and support systems within the Black Church to better the community Katrina Ludwig Contemporary Black America Thesis Statement: The African American church provides invaluable resources for Blacks through the pastoral support, it’s autonomy as an institution, and providing a space to build community. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase” –Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was so wise in these words because he was looking into the future, and taking a leap of faith. Taking the first step in change is hard, but leads into positive networks and support. While an individual may not see all of the positive aspects of a community