6-9 - The inherited model of secularization

Question 1

What is secularization?

Answer 1

It refers to the decline of religiosity as a result of the modernization of society. It is the process by which religion and the sacred gradually have less validity, influence, and significance in society and the lives of individuals” through the impact of modern processes like rationalization, pluralism, and individualism

Question 2

What does classical secularization theory suggest?

Answer 2

AKA the inherited model. Suggests that as modernity expands its influence, religion will disappear. That all classical sociological theories link secularization to the onset of modernity

Question 3

What are the shared elements of inherited model?

Answer 3

1.) Differentiation
2.) Rationalization
3.) Wordliness

Question 4

What does differentiation suggest in the inherited model?

Answer 4

It is the development of specific social institutions that now undertake tasks previously performed by organized religion (education, healthcare)

Question 5

What does rationalization suggest in the inherited model?

Answer 5

That the rise of scientific and rational modes of thinking which superseed the superstitious and irrational (the religious)

Question 6

What does wordliness suggest in the herited model?

Answer 6

That there is a personal worldview in the here and now rather than the transcendents

Question 7

What did Stark publish in regards to secularization theory?

Answer 7

He published an article that declares that secularization theory is dead and that it should be at long last be abandoned.

Question 8

What does Thomas Woolston predict in regards to Christianity?

Answer 8

That it would be gone as a result of modernization by 1900.

Question 9

What does Thomas Jefferson predict in regards to Christianity?

Answer 9

That within his lifetime, Christianity would fade away in 1822.

Question 10

What does Peter Berger predict in regards to religious believers in the 21st century?

Answer 10

That there would only be a small sects of them huddle together to resist a worldwide secular culture.

Question 11

What are the 5 things that stark notes in regards to secularization, but disagrees with?

Answer 11

1.) That there is a universal agreement that modernization is the causal engine dragging the gods into retirement

2.) That secularization is not merely directed towards institutional differentiation (separation of the church and state). They are primarily concerned with individual piety.

3.) Science has deadly implications for religion

4.) Secularization is irreversible

5.) Not merely a western phenomenon, but rather one that should take place globally

Question 12

What is Stark’s most provocative claim in regards to secularization?

Answer 12

That even in Europe, there has been no significant decline religiosity?

Question 13

What are the 2 claims that Stark made in regards to the religious participation?

Answer 13

1.) That religious participation in Eruope was very low in Northern and Wesern Europe for many centuries before the onset of modernization

2.) That levels of subjective religiousness remains high - to classify a nation as highly secularized of its inhabitants believe in God is an odd position.

Question 14

What was the myth of past piety?

Answer 14

They are the claims made to prove that Europe was always somewhat irreligious.

• Ordinary people rarely entered the church
• That many priest could not even properly perform the mass because they never spoke Latin
• That there is an extensive survey of surviving parish churches in various parts of Europe were “too small to have held only a small fraction of inhabitants
• No pastors or absentee pastors
• When people went to church, they went unwillingly and behaved in inappropriately

Question 15

According to Stark, why did Christianization fail within the Roman Empire?

Answer 15

• Due to the responsibility of the of the Stat Religion.
• That Christianity got lazy about evangelizing.
• Was not working to convert, but rather increase the nobility
• That the role of Christianity in the everyday lives of people outside of the nobility remained often light and shallow
• That Christian commitment was never deep enough in northern Europe to generate much mass attendance
• That Scandinavia easily became protestant because no one there really cared.

Question 16

What occurs in the revisionism era?

Answer 16

That the conversion of Constantine, while making it the official religion, allows Christianity to explode and progress.

Question 17

What does Stark suggestion in regards to secularization with in home religion suggest?

Answer 17

That secularization is the decline of religious institutions, decline in believe and that both need to go at the same time.

Question 18

What is the suggestion that Stark makes in relation to the revisionism of Christianity from the appearance of Constantine?

Answer 18

That there is an association and attachment to power with Christianity. In which a drain of moral vision occurs as a depictment of Christianity. A mix up of state power with religion.

Question 19

What is the suggestion that Stark makes with scientists being irreligious?

Answer 19

That scientific literacy increases, that ultimately more people will become secular. Science is toxic to religion and that religion cannot survive a scientific world.

Question 20

What is the definition of supernatural?

Answer 20

Refers to the forces or entities beyond or outside nature and having the capacity to suspend, alter or ignore physical forces

Question 20

What do other studies suggest in about science and religion?

Answer 20

Studies for example the American academics have suggested that even people who are in the most scientific classes can be religious, with the lowest being in Anthropology and Psychology. Suggesting that science does not necessarily need to be toxic in regards to religion.

Question 20

What are some examples/forms of supernaturalism?

Answer 20

1.) Astrology
2.) Spiritualism
3.) Fortune telling

Question 21

What is the definition of a churched religion?

Answer 21

A relatively stable organized congregations of lay members who acknowledge a particular religious creed. People who participate in churched religions are expected to do so regularly and exclusively

Question 22

What is a creed?

Answer 22

It is a set of beliefs to which all members of a religious group are expected to assent?

Question 23

What is an unchurched religion and unchurched supernaturalism?

Answer 23

It is an organization that lacks congregation and usually lacks a creed.

Question 24

What was implicated by the rice bowl Christians in the era of converting China?

Answer 24

They were the result of chinese peasants who there simply for the food as the initiative to convert the Chinese population into Christians.

Question 25

What is Steve Bruce’s Theory of secularization?

Answer 25

That when one measure of religious interests starts to show decline, the rates of decline are much the same and that, very close to what we’d assume to be, would be the “half-life” rate of decay: each generation is roughly half as religious as the one before.

Question 26

What is the declining stock of knowledge created by Steve Bruce?

Answer 26

That the depth of knowledge even for those who attend Church is not what it once was. That people learn from their surroundings, if there is no religious knowledge in their surroundings they don’t learn it. That even if religious revival were likely, there is not much base knowledge to drive it from.

Question 27

What is the general concept of social influence in religion conversions?

Answer 27

That religious conversion has more to do with social connections than beliefs. That although, religious conversion has much more to do with social connections than beliefs.
There is marginal religious people that are shrinking as a percentage of the population leaving essentially very religious people and unreligious people.

Question 28

What does Steve Bruce explain in the theory of “diffusion of innovation” research?

Answer 28

That the work on religious conversion shows is that people are more likely to entertain some new idea or practical innovation when it is presented to them either by a friend or by people who are similar to themselves : race, class, gender.

Question 29

What is the idea of Secularization as Religious Evolution according to Talcott Parsons and Robert Bellah?

Answer 29

That secularization is part of an increasing social complexity. That it is transforming, and that religion is NOT dissolving (progresses)
That religion is becoming more of a private matter.
That people who choose their own beliefs instead of being indoctrinated
That religion that is chosen may be more important to the individual (than if it was said by parents or relatives etc.)

Question 30

What is the Neo-Secularization Theory entail according to Mark Chaves?

Answer 30

That secularization can occur at the micro (individual) and macro (societal) levels. That in the US, seems to be taking place the MACRO and not at the MICRO level
There is less religious authority, but people still broadly believe.

Question 31

What is Wallis and Bruce’s take on Neo-Secularization Theory?

Answer 31

That practice in the religious sphere have only indirect effects on other spheres such as business, politics, leisure, and education. That religious institutions have limited or no influence on other spheres

Question 32

What does the Macro level of Secularization?

Answer 32

Describes a decline of religion in the social sphere. That religion which had ties to social institutions (which is often controlled) ceases to do so.

Question 33

What are some examples of macro level of secularization?

Answer 33

• That religion is no longer running in schools
• medical care is no longer under religious control
• social welfare ceases to be the purview of religious organizations
• religious institution become one rather than the dominant institution.

Question 34

What is the concept of meso-level secularization?

Answer 34

It secularization within religious institutions a.k.a “internal secularization”.

Question 35

What are examples of meso-level secularization?

Answer 35

• Secularization of institutions of higher learning that have dnominational affiliation: Yale (Calvinist), Notre Dame (Catholic) etc.
• Hospitals have either have or had religious foundings operate primarily on administrative and management procedures accepted broadly.

Question 36

What is the concept of micro-level of secularization?

Answer 36

It is the primary reflection of how people’s religious beliefs affect their daily lives
It is the question of what role does religion make in decision making?

Question 37

What is the concept of self-limiting secularization?

Answer 37

That when new forms of religion become established, they shed their original character. Older forms of religion lose their appeal and people will leave with poorer people leaving first and richer people leaving as membership declines and provides less social capital.

Question 38

What is the result of self-limiting secularization?

Answer 38

• Leads to a religious crisis
• leads to religious innovators emerging and propose new forms of religious life (attracts people, and imitators (NRM) & sects)
• Religious activity in the society increases