Beliefs 5 - Secularisation Flashcards
Evidence for secularisation?
1850s 50% population attended church, 5% in 2015
Steve Bruce (2002) if number of clergy and congregations continue to decrease at their current rate, Methodism will finish in 2030
Lynd and Lynd 1920s 94% of young Christians in US thought Christianity was one true religion vs 41% by late 1970s
Penman (2013) ‘bogus baptisms’ so atheist parents can get their child into high-achieving church school
Davies (2006) lack of trust in clergy especially with recent allegations of Catholic priests
Rationalisation explanations for secularisation?
Weber (1903) desacralisation as sacred elements can’t be explained and with rise of science people don’t believe it
Bruce (2011) more rational and technological worldview (aka belief in science) so don’t rely on myths to explain tragedy
What is secularisation?
The extent to which society is becoming less religious
Wilson (1966) the process whereby religious thinking, practices and institutions lose their social significance
Privatised religious belief explanation for secularisation?
Bruce (2004) society has undergone individualisation so religions don’t have the control over communities they once did and its more a personal choice (privatised)
E.g. beliefs no longer imposed like Renaissance, less religious programmes on TV, wearing religious symbols to work is often discouraged, schools have a multi-faith approach
Religious pluralism explanation for secularisation?
Berger (1969) no sacred canopy because of pluralism (wide range of beliefs) undermines monopoly on truth for any one organisation
Disengagement explanation for secularisation?
Parsons (1951) structural differentiation other institutions have taken on religions functions, religion becomes more private
E.g. welfare state has taken over churches charity and compassion function
Religion for secular reasons explanation for secularisation?
Bruce (2002) people who still refer to themselves as religious are using it for a.cultural defence, or b.cultural transition and integration (e.g Polish people in UK attending Catholic Church) not actual belief
Day (2007) people will claim to be Christian if they believe being British is important (part of culture, not actual belief), if they want to be aspirational (good mothers, etc.) or immigrants who want to belong to British culture
Criticisms for secularisation?
Davie (1994) religious activity has changed to be vicarious, with active minority praying on behalf of the community and church attendance spikes during death of national figure, etc. and church attendance stats don’t measure personal belief
Helland (2000) established religious movements use the internet to communicate with followers (e.g evangelical movements in America) and like-minded people talk online unstructuredly about their beliefs and faith
Hervieu-Leger (2000) New Age rise has created pilgrims (seek to achieve spiritual goals) and converts (seek community)
Rise in fundamentalism because of globalisation
Effects of globalisation on religion?
Giddens (1999) globalisation triggered rise in fundamentalism due to rapid promotion of liberal values everywhere
Bauman (1992) uncertainty caused by globalisation has led to fundamentalism rise
Davie (2013) rise in movements with fundamentalist values (religion and new right)
Huntington (1996) globalisation means 7 different cultures each with a different religion and fundamentalism is because of an us and them mentality with the rest of them (e.g Bruce, Islamic fundamentalism against western society)
Criticism for globalisations effect on religion?
Nanda (2008) globalisation and more work hasn’t caused Hinduism in India to be less important (85% are religious) due to change in how Hindu’s view wealth
Beckford (2011) globalisation effects all forms of religion, not just fundamentalism, and there are many different types of fundamentalist groups
Lehmann (2002) different religions (e.g Pentecostalism) ‘tap in’ and adapt to local concerns and tradition
