ABSTRACT
Religion plays various public roles. It often supports the established power, both practically and symbolically. In other situations, however, religious traditions and communities challenge the status quo. This chapter analyzes the distinctive ways that religion contributes to movements for social change. The author begins by analyzing different approaches in the sociology of religion that illuminate the ways that religion either bolsters or undermines the established order. Then the specific ways that religion contributes to movements for social change are looked at. Most studies of religion and social movements concentrate on the provision of practical resources such as leadership, space, and finances. While these are vital, less tangible factors also deserve attention. The author concentrates on three: the role of religious ideas in inspiring and legitimating protest, the ways that religion mediates between different social spheres and scales, and religiously inspired practices of protest. Understanding these sometimes subtle factors can contribute to a more holistic and systematic analysis of religion’s role in social change.
