Religion, Renewal and Choice Flashcards
What is the argument for society not being completely secular?
While traditional religions may be declining, newer religions are emerging as a result of greater changes in society such as greater individualism, choice and consumerism.
What is ‘obligation to consumption’ according to Davie?
- Davie argues there was an obligation to go to Church as it was the norm but in modern society its now down to choice and consumerism.
- Religion now takes a more privatised form as people are reluctant to belong to organisations, ie, belief without belonging.
What does ‘vicarious religion’ mean according to Davies?
‘Vicarious religion’ is when religion is practiced by an active minority but the majority still receive the benefits second hand.
Davies calls it a ‘spiritual health service’ like the NHS, which people can use when they need to.
EG: In Britain there is low Church attendance but many people still identify with the church and use it for rites of passage such as weddings or funerals. Provides people with ritual and support.
How is Davies ‘belief without belonging’ and ‘vicarious religion’ evaluated?
Voas and Crockett don’t accept Davies claim of believing but not belonging and use evidence from 5,750 respondents to show that both church attendance and belief in God are declining together.
How did spiritual shopping emerge and what is it according to Hervieu-Leger?
- Hervieu-Leger blames the decline of religious obligation on ‘cultural amnesia’. Before children were socialised into religious belief, but now few parents teach their children about religion so they don’t have a fixed religious identity.
- A trend towards social equality has undermined the traditional power of the Church to impose religion on people from above
- This has led to an individualised ‘do it yourself’ belief where people become spiritual shoppers and choose what belief aligns with their interests/aspirations.
- Two religious types emerge from this:
1) Pilgrims who follow an individual path in search of self-discovery (New Age)
2) Converts who join religious groups that offer a strong sense of belonging (churches of ethnic minorities)
What is ‘Postmodern religion’ according to Lyon?
- Lyon agrees that belief without belonging is becoming increasingly popular and says the post-modernist society is changing the nature of religion through globalisation, media and growth of consumerism.
- Globalisation means religious ideas have become ‘disembedded’ from churches and spread across the media, giving us instant access to new ideas.
EG: Televangelism has relocated religion onto the media allowing believers to express their belief without needing to attend church. - This means religion has become deinstitutionalised, it has been removed from its original location in a way people can adapt it for their own purposes.
What are the two types of internet activity involving religious organisations according to Hellend?
- Religion online: top down communication where a religious leader/organisation uses the internet to address its members.
- Online religion: Like minded people interact in forums and discuss their beliefs in an unstructured way, creates community and gives people mutual support.
What do spiritual shopping and post modern religion show about patterns in religion?
This concludes that people haven’t given up on religion, but have tailored it to suit their own religion through ‘picking and mixing’ elements of faith to fit their identity. This weakens the claims of traditional religion as there’s no longer a monopoly of truth.
We are in a period of re-enchantment with a growth of unconventional beliefs, practices and spirituality.
What is religious consumerism and give an example of this?
Choosing religious beliefs and practices to meet our individual needs from the ‘religious marketplace’. We pick and mix elements of faith to suit our tastes and identity.
EG: Bellah interviewed a nurse who said she had her own personal religion called ‘Sheilaism’, she chose aspects of Christianity to suit her own needs.
What is the spiritual revolution?
Traditional Christianity is giving way to a New Age spirituality that emphasises personal development and subjective experience. This means the spiritual market is growing.
What is a case study to support the ‘spiritual revolution’?
Heelas and Woodhead’s study of Kendal, Cumbria.
The study showed traditional religion declined and had been replaced with spirituality, there were two groups: the congressional domain and the holistic milieu.
The congressional domain attendance was decreasing and the holistic milleu was rising.
An explanation for this is that evangelical churches were rising due to their emphasise of spiritual healing and personal growth, which coincided with the culture of exploring ourselves.
What are the weaknesses of the ‘New Age’/ Spiritual Revolution?
- Socialisation: It is not passed on through generations.
- Weak commitment: Very few people say spirituality is important in their lives.
How is religious market theory critical of secularisation theory according to Stark and Bainbridge?
Stark and Bainbridge argue there was no ‘golden age’ of religion, people are naturally religious and religion meets certain human needs.
What are ‘compensators’?
Religion is attractive as it provides us with compensators (supernatural rewards such as life after death)
What is the cycle of renewal?
Religious decline, revival and renewal is seen throughout history. When churches decline, a gap in the market opens for cults and sects to attract new members.
