Christianity and secularisation Flashcards
Outline the rise of secularisation
Reformation: The reformation allowed for a more individualised approach to religion, enabling people to access their own personal relationship with scripture without the need of mediation by religious authority. As society became less reliant on religious authority for their source of information.
Post World Wars - Two world wars saw a decline in faith as it became increasingly difficult for people to believe in an omnibenevolent God.
Enlightenment - The enlightenment era saw people favour empirical methods as ways of gaining new knowledge. Society shifted to the scientific method and use of reason was encouraged. Kant advocated for a world view based on scientific enquiry rather than religious dogma.
Industrialisation and urbanisation:
The industrial revolution led to urban migration meaning society became more diverse and pluralistic. New world views and ideologies emerged meaning Christianity began to lose some dominance and power over public concession.
Separation of Church and State - the establishment of the welfare state in the UK meant the Church’s role in social care diminished as the state took a more prominent role. Similarly, a growth in liberal attitudes conflicted with traditional religious views; civil rights movements advocated for a more secular approach to governance to ensure equity for all citizens.
Religion also began less necessary as a an authoritative source for morality. Enlightenment thinkers argued reason alone could be the source for moral and societal values. Secular morality often is rooted in religious traditions such as beliefs in the sanctity of life, however these attitudes are now widely accepted on a rational basis rather than religious. This contrasted previous theistic values; Despite his value in reason and believing it could discern some truths, Aquinas argued divine revelation through scripture was required for a complete understanding.
Outline critics of religion
Feuerbach: Religion is man-made and a projection of humanities desires and wishes. God allows us to cultivate a sense of self in a way which is distinctively human and thus finding peace with God is a matter of becoming at one with one’s true nature.
Freud - saw religion as an “illusion” and belief in God as a form of neurosis. Humanity craved a paternal figure to cope with the uncertainty and troubles of the world, this desire was projected onto belief in a fatherly God.
Dawkins - author of the God Delusion, Dawkins believes that society needs to outgrow religion. He argues the God of Christianity is “bloodthirsty ethical cleanser” and religion is the source of discrimination and conflict. Promoting religion he sees as a form of brainwashing. The God of the Gaps argument is outlined by Dawkins, suggesting religion allows us to be satisfied with not understanding the world and that is contrary to good science.
Karl Marx - Marx viewed religion as the “opium of the people” and a tool used by the bourgeoise to exploit the lower classes, keeping them enslaved and sedated. Promoting belief in a better future in the after life, Marx argued, enabled the ruling classes to keep workers in their place and prevent them challenging the hierarchal structures in society by making them think they will be rewarded with a better life in the future.
Outline materialism
As religious belief has declined, valuing material possessions and values has gained more importance than spiritualism.
The industrial revolution further enforced capitalism.
Outline Jesus’ response to materialism
Materialism is grounded in modern society with many equating monetary success to personal value.
Like today society in the early biblical period valued wealth and saw it as a favour from God.
However, Jesus discouraged this view and of placing too much value on material assets, asserting that spiritual wealth should outweigh material success.
“it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of needle than for someone who is rich to get into the Kingdom of God”
The Parable of the rich man and Lazarus teaches that wealth has no value in the afterlife and teaches the moral imperative to care for those less fortunate and positioning charity as fundamental to Christian values.
St Paul says how “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
Outline Christian views which value materialism
The prosperity gospel believe that wealth is a sign of God’s favour and argue that those who are faithful will be rewarded with prosperity.
Televangelist Joel Osteen advocates for this view
Not a mainstream Christian view .
Prosperity Gospels encourage large donations to the Churches.
Outline Christian responses to the rise in secularisation
Fresh Expressions works alongside the Church to meet people where they are and from within their context rather than drawing them into tradition Christian practices.
They aim to listen to people’s relative experiences and see how the life and attitudes of Jesus can be applied to them in this contemporary life.
Believes that the rise of secularisation has led to Christianity facing similar opposition to that of the first centuries of its existence that it received from persecuting authorities and society.
