Explaining the Distribution and Strength of Religion Flashcards
What do Stark, Bainbridge and Fink argue about religious demand and how people consume religion? (religious market theory)
that there is a demand for religion that is constant, people have an essential need for compensators that only religion can provide. they suggest that religious organisations are like businesses, creating products to meet consumer demands in the spiritual market place.
whether people participate depends on the quantity, quality and attractiveness of the religious products available.
people make rational choices when consuming a religion, and make a cost/benefit analysis. so organisations need to offer the greatest benefits for the lowest costs
What do Stark and Finke argue is the key factor that undies religious participation? give an example
religious pluralism
USA for example has high participation because lots of options available so people will almost certainly find something to satisfy their demand for religion
what do Starke and Finke argue about secularisation?
that despite low participation it is not occurring in Europe, people still hold religious beliefs however in contrast to the USA, European countries have a religion favoured by the state meaning there is limited choice and competition between organisations so only a fraction of peoples beliefs are catered for
what does sharot argue against starke and finkes argument that secularisation isn’t occurring?
they make little reference to religions other than mainstream christianity and the theory only applies to the USA so it is unable to account for patterns of religiosity elsewhere
what does Bruce point out is flawed in Stark and Finks idea that it is lack of choice rather than secularisation?
that even in the US there are large areas that don’t have a wide diversity of religious groups but participation remains high.
what is norris and ingleharts existential security theory?
they accept the secularisation thesis but more in Europe than USA and not at all in some countries. different levels of participation arise because of different amount of existential security which is the feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted.
they argue religion is a sense of confidence in an uncertain world, where there are low levels of existential security.
what do norris and inglehart argue about why demand for religion varies between societies?
varies according to the level of existential security,
advanced industrial societies are more secular than developing countries since the poorest have the lowest existential security and therefore the highest demands for religion.
some argue existential security theory doesn’t explain high participation in the US where it might be expected to be low, how do norris and inglehart defend the theory?
they argue high participation in the US arises from the fact that the way that resources in the US are unequally distributed which causes high levels of poverty and insecurity for the poorest groups and this insecurity is also faced by the non-poor who face a huge threat of medical bills if they fall ill
they suggest even in wealthy societies some groups fall through the safety net of the welfare state
who found that the more a country spent on welfare the lower the religious participation, explaining why European countries are more secular than the USA, what else do they note?
Gill and Lundegaarde
also note that in the past religion provided welfare for the poor and now the state provide it in the west
how does Vasquez criticise existential security theory
argues norris and inglehart don’t examine people’s definitions of existential security and only see religion as a negative response to deprivation they ignore the positive reasons people have for religious participation and the appeal it can have for the wealthy
