The main purpose of the current assignment is to consider the phenomenon of social movements, especially in their religious aspect. Furthermore, the following paragraphs will attempts to consider, analyze and prove the statement that all the religious movements, religious philosophies and teachings that are being followed nowadays represent a unique example of social movement, even taking in consideration the fact that religions are not traditionally being classified as social movements.
Still, in order to provide an effective and profound analysis of religions representing a sort of social movement, it is necessary defining social movements according to the traditional their definition. Firstly, it is necessary to define that social movements represent a unique type of group action, being large groupings of individuals both formal and informal or institutions/organizations focusing on particular social, political and other issues. In other words, social movements are comprised of groups of people or institutions representing, following or opposing a particular event.
Therefore, social movements are generally defined as aiming to pursue a particular change in the currently actual social system. Modern history of Western nations states that the social movements have become possible and actual as a result of easier access to education along with the increased mobility of production factors as a result of urbanization and further industrialization of the societies during the 19th century. In particular, the working relations of this time period changed alongside the working process after the technological progress of that age (Tilly, 2004).
Further, according to the corresponding statements of the scholars, the post-industrialization spreading of various freedoms, including freedom of education, expression etc. along with the relatively moderate level of economic independence dominating the social systems of the Western nations – all of these have become more than effective stimulators for developing and massive spreading of social movements. Still, it is necessary reminding that a number of social movements and related demonstrations has grown up significantly not only in the West, but also across the Globe. The famous social movements of African and Eastern nations have not ever been so numerous and influential compared to the same of the last hundred years.
Therefore, it is necessary concluding that social movements appear to be an inevitable component of each social system associated or implementing the principles of democratic society. What is more important in this regard, the flourishing of social movements has been detected in developing and democratizing nations of the 3rd World despite the fact that first representations of social movements have been occurring exactly in the Western countries. As a result, social movements have become one of the most important, socially significant and effective methods of expressing a refusal for a particular event or against an individual/group of individuals or institution(s) (Tilly, 2004).
It should also be stated that nowadays social movements also appear evolving along with the technologies that area easily accessible and available for use. In particular, social movements have changed significantly nowadays with the advent of social networks and their further popularization. A number of scholarly studies is currently analysing the influence of social networks available nowadays upon the social movements and creating social trend, in particular. For example, social masses can communicate upon a particular matter of interest online and further organize a meeting or a demonstration supporting or opposing a matter that has been discussed previously (Buettner & Buettner, 2016).
Still, it is worth stating that religious aspect of social movements has been highlighted by a limited number of studies despite the fact that a number of past and present social movement have been conducted and held under the active involvement of religious groups in mobilizing the significant number of individuals supporting them across the globe. Therefore, there is a necessity to define role of religion in social movements alongside the religion itself representing a social movement (Hutchison, 2012). In particular, the project will consider Islam as one of the religions shaping the social movements of nowadays. Further, this religion will also be analysed as a respective form of social movement.
It is worth accepting that the aforementioned ideas and priorities appear to be not unique across the Eastern religions being popular worldwide, still the Islamic manner of introducing them makes these principles different. Thus, conversion to Islam appears to be more complicated due to the fact that a person is required to adjust his/her own principles, values and peculiarities of personality in order to become a member of Islamic community. This appears especially important for women willing to accept Islamic belief, as the concept and role of woman in Islam appears to be considerably different, especially compared to the traditional Western values of emancipation and feminism (Rouse, 2004).
Further, considering the religion of Islam, it is necessary reminding about its two main sects: Sunni and Shia. What is more important, these appear to be in a continuous conflict between each other despite the fact that they technically represent the same religion and teaching of the Prophet Muhammad. It appears more than obvious for everyone who is aware of either the history of the territories of the Middle East and the current state of the relations among Middle Eastern nations that both followers of Shia and Sunni appear to be involved in long-lasting military conflicts, simply destroying and killing each other.
However, it is still worth reminding that according to the teachings of Muhammad, the followers of Allah are all brother and should never be divided into different groups, especially the ones killing each other. This is what Quran states about the sects: “As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, you have no part of them in the least. Their affair is with Allah; He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did” (6:159). Therefore, it is worth stating that the values of Islam and Quran, in particular, appear to be highly distorted under the political influence of the Islamic leaders dividing the followers of Allah into two conflicting camps. Thus, such division emphasizes the importance of Islam in creating social groups and social movements, as a result.
In total, all the religious believers regardless of a particular religion or its sect/school, appear to have significant list of assets in order to promote social movements and activist measures related to the social movements and demonstrations. Among these resources, it is necessary to highlight the organizational resources, public legitimacy, normative motivational systems, shared identity etc. Still, it is worth stating that the same resources appear to be in the hands of non-religious groups having considerably less social power in comparison. The difference is that the religious group creates a unique religious culture based upon the ideas and perceptions particular for a corresponding religious belief.
What is more important, the religious aspect of culture in this regard is that the overall culture within the religious group is concentrated across the concept of something supernatural, mysterious and/or sacred. Such sacredness and supernatural origin of religion creates a purpose of living for an individual by following and worshiping a particular supernatural event. Furthermore, that also appears to be the reason that a particular religion is either supported or prohibited by the government.
Thus, the religions appear to enjoy all the benefits from cooperation with the local government, while the government has additional audience to control (Smith, 1996). This cooperation appears to be mutually profitable and beneficial for both of them, as the religious followers might support associated government due to the fact that government claims to pursue the values of the religion. As for the government, it appears so much easier to control the people sharing common beliefs and values along with believing in the same concept, even in cases when the government knows that their beliefs are fictional.
References
Alminbar.com,. Retrieved 25 February 2016, from http://www.alminbar.com/khutbaheng/2600.htm
Buettner, R., & Buettner, K. (2016). A Systematic Literature Review of Twitter Research from a Socio-Political Revolution Perspective. ResearchGate. Retrieved 25 February 2016, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282150020_A_Systematic_Literature_Review_of_Twitter_Research_from_a_SocioPolitical_Revolution_Perspective?channel=doi&linkId=56050b3f08ae5e8e3f3125cb&showFulltext=true
Hutchison, E. (2012). Spirituality, Religion, and Progressive Social Movements: Resources and Motivation for Social Change. Journal Of Religion & Spirituality In Social Work: Social Thought, 31(1-2), 105-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2012.647891
Rouse, C. (2004). Engaged surrender. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Smith, C. (1996). Disruptive religion. New York: Routledge.
Tilly, C. (2004). Social movements, 1768-2004. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers.
