globalisation + new age movements

Question 1

DANIELE HERVIEW-LEGER - postmodernist view

Answer 1

says we act as ‘spiritual shoppers’ by choosing religious beliefs to meet our specific needs

Question 2

PETER L. BERGER - problem with multiple religions

Answer 2

• loss of traditional religions
• weakens traditional religions that claim monopoly over the truth - and that exposure to competing religions makes people sceptical of all of them
• traditional mainstream churches have lost their authority

Question 3

DAVID LYON - ‘re-enchantment’

Answer 3

• does not believe society is becoming more secular
• we are in a period of ‘re-enchantment’
• growth of unconventional beliefs, practices and spirituality
• traditional forms of religion have declined, but the importance of non-traditional religion in the west still stands

Question 4

STEVE BRUCE - problems with NAMs

Answer 4

• have to be on a larger scale to fill the gap of the decline in traditional religion
• beliefs must be passed down, and most NAM women are childless
• serious commitment is low
• individualism - cannot achieve a consensus about beliefs

Question 5

HEELAS + WOODHEAD - declining religious study

Answer 5

• studied Kendal (Columbia) to see if traditional religion has declined
• traditional churches were loosing support, but evangelical churches were thriving
• NAMs also growing
• new age spirituality has grown because of the shift away from doing your duty and obeying external authority to exploring your inner self
• traditional religion is declining as it demands duty and obedience
• evangelical churches also emphasise the importance of spiritual healing and personal growth

Question 6

NORRIS + INGLEHART - existential security theory

Answer 6

• existential security (feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted) is the reason for different degrees of religion
• societies where people already feel secure have low levels of religion
• poor societies where people face life threatening risks are more religious
• welfare protects people, meaning secure societies have no need for religion