Beliefs In Society- Anti-secularisation Flashcards
What is the differentiation thesis in anti-secularisation theory?
The differentiation thesis argues that religion is still relevant, especially in people’s private lives, and that religious beliefs and practices are changing rather than declining.
What does Postmodernist theory claim about religion in a postmodern society?
Postmodernist theory claims that a postmodern society is a multi-faith society where people can choose religious beliefs from any or all religions, without sticking rigidly to one.
How does Postmodernist theory challenge the secularisation thesis?
It argues that society is not secular; people are being religious in their own way, in private, rather than through traditional institutions.
What is Davie’s argument about religion and secularisation?
Davie argues that religion is not declining but changing, taking on a more privatised form, where people believe without belonging (BWB).
What does “believing without belonging” (BWB) mean, according to Davie?
BWB refers to people holding religious beliefs without regularly attending church, evidenced by vicarious religion where clergy practice on behalf of others.
What is vicarious religion, according to Davie?
Vicarious religion occurs when a small number of clergy practice religion on behalf of a larger number of people who do not attend regularly but use the church for rites of passage and still identify with it.
What is Davie’s criticism of secularisation theories?
Davie argues that secularisation theories wrongly assume modernisation affects all societies the same way, ignoring multiple modernities, such as high church attendance in the USA and low attendance but BWB in the UK.
What is Voas and Crockett’s criticism of Davie’s theory?
They argue that both church attendance and belief are declining, so there is neither belonging nor believing.
What does Bruce argue about declining church attendance?
Bruce claims that declining attendance reflects the declining strength of belief, as people become less willing to attend church when their fervour for belief decreases.
What does Day argue about people identifying as Christian?
Day found that people describe themselves as Christian not because they are religious but because it is a non-religious marker of their ethnic and national identity.
What is Hervieu-Leger’s argument about the decline of traditional institutional religion?
She argues that traditional institutional religion is declining due to cultural amnesia, where parents no longer teach children about religion, and religion has lost societal influence.
What does Hervieu-Leger mean by “spiritual shoppers”?
Spiritual shoppers are individualised consumers of religion who pick and mix elements of religions to create DIY beliefs that fit their interests and aspirations.
What are the two types of religious people Hervieu-Leger identifies?
Pilgrims, who follow individual paths of self-discovery through New Age Movements, and converts, who join religious groups offering a strong sense of belonging, often based on shared ethnicity.
What is one criticism of Hervieu-Leger’s theory?
A multi-faith society does not mean one religion is not dominant, such as Christianity in the UK.
What is another criticism of Hervieu-Leger’s theory?
Postmodernists ignore the possibility that consumerism manipulates people through advertising, presenting consumption as an expression of individuality.
What does Lyon argue about religion in a postmodern society?
Lyon argues that traditional religion is declining, but new religious forms are emerging due to globalisation and media, which disembed beliefs and make religion a cultural resource for individuals.
What does Lyon mean by “deinstitutionalisation” of religion?
Deinstitutionalisation refers to religion becoming detached from traditional institutions and moving into the sphere of consumption, where individuals use it for their own purposes.
What is Helland’s argument about religion and the internet?
Helland argues that the internet has created opportunities for religious activity, including religion online (one-way communication) and online religion (interactive, community-based activities).
What is the difference between “religion online” and “online religion,” according to Helland?
Religion online involves religious organisations providing information, while online religion involves interactive, many-to-many communication, such as virtual worship or meditation workshops.
What is Hoover et al.’s criticism of online religion?
They argue that people who use online religious forums often do so to supplement church-based activities, not replace them.
What is religious consumerism, and how does it affect religion?
Religious consumerism refers to individuals picking and mixing elements of religions to construct their identity, leading to the decline of traditional religions and the rise of new religious movements (NRMs).
What is Heelas and Woodhead’s “spiritual revolution”?
They define it as the process through which new forms of religiosity, such as New Age Movements (NAMs), are replacing traditional religion.
What did Heelas and Woodhead find in their Kendal study?
They found two religious groups: the congregational domain (traditional and evangelical Christianity) and the holistic milieu (NAMs). Evangelical churches and NAMs were growing, while traditional churches declined.
What is the “subjective turn” in culture, according to Heelas and Woodhead?
The subjective turn refers to the shift from obeying traditional religious authority to exploring one’s inner self through spiritual paths, contributing to the decline of traditional religion.
