Beliefs- Topic 4(Paper2)

Question 1

Explain in the idea that elision has moved from obligation to consumption.

Answer 1

Religion is no longer inherited or imposed. Eg. baptism was once an obligation.

Question 2

Explain what Davie means by ‘believing without belonging.’

Answer 2

Having faith but not belonging to an organisation or public ally protecting faith.

Question 3

Scalping what Davie means by ‘Vicarious religion.’

Answer 3

Experiencing religion ‘second hand’ identifying oneself as a christian in a christian nation but happy to allow the minority to practice on your behalf.

Question 4

According to Davie, in what way are the major national churches like the NHS?

Answer 4

The spiritual health service= using churches as and when they needed for ‘rites of passage’

Question 5

What does Davie mean by the term ‘multiple modernities’

Answer 5

Modernised societies don’t experience religion in the the same ways modernity doesn’t always correlate with religious decline.

Question 6

How do Voas and Crockett dispute Davie’s claim about believing without belonging?

Answer 6

Evidence suggests that belief in religion is declining at the same rate as religious participation.

Question 7

What is Bruce’s criticism of believing without belonging?

Answer 7

People who aren’t prepared to dedicate time to worship probably have limited religious beliefs.

Question 8

Explain why, according to Day, some people may identify as Christian.

Answer 8

Identifying as christian is just an extension of being White British (Day calls this believing in belonging).

Question 9

Scallion cultural amnesia.

Answer 9

Parents no longer pass down religious ideas to their children automatically: children are allowed to choose what to believe.

Question 10

According to Hervieu-Léger, what impact has the trend to greater equality had on religion?

Answer 10

It has undermined the power of the church.

Question 11

Why have people broke spiritual shoppers?

Answer 11

They pick and choose which part of religion to follow.

Question 12

Explain what Hervieu-Léger means by pilgrims and coverts.

Answer 12

Pilgrims- are like those in the holistic milieu in the kendal project. They follow an individual path in a search for self-discovery.

Converts- Join religious groups that offer a strong sense of belonging, usalky based on a shared ethnic background or religious doctrine.

Question 13

According to Hervieu-Léger, how does religion still have an influence on society’s values?

Answer 13

The values of equality and human rights have their roots in religion such values are a shared social solidarity.

Question 14

Explain how Hervieu-Léger views link to the idea of late modernity.

Answer 14

Decline in tradition and increased individualism.

Question 15

According to Lyon, what are the 3 features postmodern society?

Answer 15

-Globalisation.
-Media influences.
-Consumerism.

Question 16

Explain how the media cause religious ideas to become disembedded

Answer 16

Due to a growing range of religious ‘media products’ which change the way people can worship.

Question 17

What is menat by the idea the religion has become de-institutionalised?

Answer 17

Removed from the original location.

Question 18

What is meant by religion online and online religion?

Answer 18

Religion online- internet like church.
Online religion-Purely on internet, non-hierarchical, sharing ideas.

Question 19

What does Lyon mean by religion having ‘relocated to the sphere of consumption’

Answer 19

Pick and choose which elements of religion to use.

Question 20

How does the existence of a range of religious products weaken traditional religions?

Answer 20

Less people worship in a church or take a day of rest.

Question 21

How does the New Age spirituality differ from traditional religions?

Answer 21

Beliefs and practices which encourage people to pursue personal discovery, development and fulfilment, promote individualism.

Question 22

Why have New Age beliefs and practices been called ‘self-spirituality?’

Answer 22

Deciding what is true and empowering for you; self-worship.

Question 23

According to Lyon, why does the decline of traditional religious views not mean the end of religion?

Answer 23

As there’s other ways to practice religion.

Question 24

What is menat by a spiritual revolution?

Answer 24

Personal development and subjective experience.
Look at whether the growth of spirituality was replacing traditional religion.

Question 25

According to Heelas and Woodhead, what is meant by the congregational domain and the holistic milieu?

Answer 25

Congregational domain- traditional christianity.
Holistic milieu- Spirituality and New Age.

Question 26

3 explainations for the tend in worship in the Kendal study.

Answer 26

-Subjective turn in culture- exploring your inner self.

-Decline in religion demanding duty and obedience.

-Evangelical more successful than traditional.

Question 27

Explain Bruce’s criticisms of the view that New Age beliefs show that religion is changing rather than declining. -The problem of scale.

Answer 27

If we look at the Kendal study there was way more ‘believers’ of God than believers in ‘alternative religion’ they cannot catch up.

Question 28

Explain Bruce’s criticisms of the view that New Age beliefs show that religion is changing rather than declining. -Socialisation of the next generation.

Answer 28

Only 32% of those involved in the holistic millieu were passing those beliefs onto children.

Question 29

Explain Bruce’s criticisms of the view that New Age beliefs show that religion is changing rather than declining. -Weak commitment.

Answer 29

Committing to crystals, horoscopes etc. doesn’t take much effort as committing to God.

Question 30

Explain Bruce’s criticisms of the view that New Age beliefs show that religion is changing rather than declining. -Structural weakness.

Answer 30

Religion thrive on evangelising and guiding people towards an external power, God. New Age religions guide people internally.

Question 31

Why do Stark and Bainbridge see secularisation theory as Eurocentric?

Answer 31

They don’t believe secularisation is occurring. They believe the theory is eurocentric, people are naturally religious and religion supply this demand for external answers to existential questions. They are right wing sociologists and have applied economics to the study of religion.

Question 32

2 assumptions that the religious market theory is based on.

Answer 32

-People are naturally religious and religion meets human needs. Therefore the need for religion remains constant (even though demand for parties types of religion may vary).

-Its a human nature to seek rewards and avoid costs. When people make choices, they weigh up the costs and benefits of the different options available.

Question 33

According to Stark and Bainbridge, why is religion attractive?

Answer 33

Because it provides us with compensators.

Question 34

Briefly describe the cycle of renewal.

Answer 34

Religion is always changing. Instead of disappearing completely new forms of religion replacing old ones.

Question 35

How does religious competition operate and what is its impact on religions?

Answer 35

You can pick what to learn. Churches can attract people by the social aspect, social events, music, activities.

Question 36

According to Stark and Bainbridge, what’s the effect on a religious monopoly?

Answer 36

One dominat church- no competition.

Question 37

Why does religion thrive in the USA?

Answer 37

There’s no religious monopoly.
A variety not one single church.

Question 38

How is the position in Europe different from that in America?

Answer 38

One dominant church.

Question 39

Why is the supply of religion more important than the demand?

Answer 39

America- It encouraged the growth of a healthy religious market where religions grow or decline according to consumer demand.

Europe- Competition have been held back. Lack of choice has led to decline.

Question 40

According to Hadden and Shupe, what’s the impact of televangelism?

Answer 40

Using televised b-road increased access to religion and increases religious participation.

Question 41

According to Finley, what’s the impact on immigration on American religion?

Answer 41

It’s positively affected religion in the USA it has brought about a broad range of new religious ideas.

Question 42

How does the case of post- war Japan support Stark and Bainbridge’s views?

Answer 42

Post-war Japan became more religious because restrictions on religious practice where lifted, enabling a greater range of choice to people.

Question 43

4 criticisms of religious market theory.

Answer 43

-No evidence that diversity increases demand for religion. (Bruce)

-Secularisation theory has been misunderstood; it doesn’t imply that there was ever a ‘golden age’ of religion it that everyone is turning atheist, just that traditional religion has less power today.

-In some societies where there’s a religious monopoly, participation is higher. (Norris and Inglehart).

-Assumes people are naturally religious and fails to explore the different reasons people have for not attending church.

Question 44

Why do Norris and Inglehart reject religious market theory?

Answer 44

As it only applies to America and fails to explain variations in religiosity day between different societies.

Question 45

What do Norris and Inglehart mean by ‘existential security?’

Answer 45

The feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted.

Question 46

Explain the difference in the demand for religion in poor societies and rich societies.

Answer 46

Poor societies- when people face life-threatening risks such as famine.

Rich societies- when people have high standards of living and are less risk.

Question 47

How does global population growth undermine the trends towards secularisation?

Answer 47

Rich secure, secular western countries have low levels of population growth, whereas poor insecure, religious countries have high rates.

Question 48

According to Norris and Inglehart, why is America more religious than Europe?

Answer 48

America is also the most unequal of rich societies, with an inadequate welfare safety-net and individualistic ‘dog eat dog’ values.

Question 49

How do Gill and Lundegaarde’s findings support Norris and Inglehart?

Answer 49

They found that the more a country spends on welfare, the lower the level of religious participation.

Question 50

Two criticisms of existential security theory.

Answer 50

-Norris and Inglehart used quantitative data to develop the theories; they need to do further research to find out about peoples experiences of existential security.

-Norris and Inglehart see religion as a negative reaction to deprivation and ignore the positive meaning which religion can have for people.