Beliefs- Secularisation Debate Flashcards
What are the 3 main sources of evidence for secularisation?
Popularity is declining
Decline in traditional teachings
The church is no longer as powerful
What is secularisation?
The decline in religious beliefs
What are the 4 reasons for why secularisation is happening?
Rationalisation
Structural differentiation
Social and cultural diversity
Religious diversity
What is rationalisation?
More logical and evidence based ways of thinking
Who are the 2 theorists for rationalisation?
Weber
Bruce
What does Weber say about rationalisation?
There has been a disenchantment and the magical elements of religion have been lost
What does Bruce say about rationalisation?
Science and technology have replaced religious explanations (technological world view)
Who is the theorist for structural differentiation?
Parsons
Why is structural differentiation a reason for secularisation?
Religion no longer performs as many functions within society so it is now a personal choice
What 3 functions did religion used to perform within society?
Education
Social welfare
Law
Who are the theorists for social and cultural diversity?
Wilson
Bruce
Why is social and cultural diversity a reason for secularisation?
Industrialisation has caused diverse beliefs and undermines how believable religion is
Who are the theorists for religious diversity?
Bruce
Berger
Why is religious diversity a reason for secularisation?
Religious organisations have more diversity so people start to question religion as a whole
What its a single sacred canopy?
A set of beliefs shared by all people in society
What are the 5 reasons for secularisation not happening?
Cultural defence and transition
fundamentalism
Reenchantment
Religious market theory
Existential security theory
What is cultural defence?
People sticking to their religion as comfort in a struggle against new cultures
What is cultural transition?
Ethnic minorities using religion to integrate themselves into their new society through religion
What is fundamentalism?
The belief in traditional religion and conservative beliefs
Who is the theorist for reenchantment?
Heelas
What is reenchantment?
Belief is not disappearing but just just taking a new form which can be tailored to what they want
Who is the theorist for religious market theory?
Stark and Bainbridge
What is the religious market theory?
Churches now operate like companies to give people what they want so that they believe more and have more commitment
What does Eurocentric mean?
The decline of religion in Europe fails to explain continuing validity in other places
Who is the theorist for existential security theory?
Norris and Inglehart
What is the existential crisis theory?
There is a demand for religion in third world countries where there are low income groups and rich countries are more secular
What is the theory linked to religion changing?
Postmodernists
What are the 4 reasons for religion changing?
Belief without belonging
The Kendal project
Sheilaism and individualised religion
Spiritual shopping
Who is the theorist for belief without belonging?
Davie
What is belief without belonging?
People still have religious beliefs but decide not to go to church
What is vicarious religion?
A small number of people practicing religion on behalf of a larger group
What did the kendal project find?
Traditional religion has declined so it is turning to more spiritual means
What is the congregational domain?
People practicing traditional christianity
What is the holistic milieu?
Spirituality and the new age movement
What is sheilaism?
People can now pick what they want to believe out of certain religions to create their own individual religion
Who is the theorist for sheilaism?
Bellah
Who is the theorist for spiritual shopping?
Hervieu- Leger
what is spiritual shopping?
Parents are no longer passing on religion to their children so are given a choice and may choose and individualised religion to fit in with their own aspirations
What is cultural amnesia?
Parents letting children decide what they want to beleieve
What is greater social equality?
The church no longer has the power to impose religion on people
What are pilgrims?
Those following a path of self discovery
What are converts?
People joining religious groups that offer a strong sense of belonging
What kind of belonging can be shared by converts?
Ethnic origin
Religious doctrine
