exams

Question 1

Bruce (2011)

Answer 1

society has more of a technological worldview, which replaces traditional supernatural beliefs
- E.G people use medicines instead of prayer to cure illness

Question 2

criticism of Bruce (2011)

Answer 2

• many Christians still prayer if their suffering from illness which scientific medicines cannot cure
• many still go to Lourdes to experience healing miracles

Question 3

what have scientific explanations done?

Answer 3

• reduced the scope for religious explanations; causing change

Question 4

Grace Davie (2013)

Answer 4

• in todays society we’ve moved towards consumption or choice of religion

Question 5

In the past what have churches done, and what has happened?

Answer 5

• e.g. church of England could oblige people to go to church and believe certain things, this is no longer the case religion is no longer inherited and a matter of personal choice
• increase in number of adult choosing to be baptised

Question 6

why is religion important for society?

Answer 6

• brings about social cohesion

- provides a framework e.g. 10 commandments

Question 7

why isn’t religion important for society?

Answer 7

• religion can be negative for some social groups e.g. gays/abortion policy
• ancient societies had more morals without religion

Question 8

feminist view on religion?

Answer 8

• maintains patriarchy
• creates patriarchal ideology that legitimate the subordination of women
• gives them lower status

Question 9

where can evidence of patriarchy be seen?

Answer 9

• religious organisations
• places of worship
• sacred texts
• laws and customs

Question 10

Woodhead (2002)

Answer 10

the catholic church regulates womens reproductive role by banning contraception and abortion

Question 11

postmodernist view on religion?

Answer 11

• beliefs vary enormously
• people create who they are by the choices they make
• become more personal and privatised

Question 12

what has a growth in the new age movement caused?

Answer 12

• moved away from sacrifice and worship to ‘what can this do for me’

Question 13

what are reasons for secularisation?

Answer 13

• decline of small communities
• structural differentiation
• industrialisation
• religious diversity

Question 14

Berger (1969)

Answer 14

• modern societies, especially in the UK and Europe, no longer have one religion that everybody follows

Question 15

Davie believing without belonging?

Answer 15

• religion is not declining but simply taking a different more privatised form
• people are increasingly reluctant to belong to organisations

Question 16

Hervieu-Leger- personal shopping

Answer 16

• continues the theme of personal choice and decline of obligation
• agrees there’s been a decline in institutional religion in Europe
• largely because of ‘social amnesia’
• lost the religion which would be passed down from generation