Religion Renewal and Choice Flashcards
Heelas and Woodhead
Study in Cumbria
- Congreational domain = traditional and evangelical Christianity
- Hollistic Milieu = spirituality and New Age
2000, in typical week:
- 7.9% attend church
- 1.6% took part in activities of holistic milieu
Heelas and Woodhead
(EXP: trad churches decline, Evangelical the same, holistic milieu increase)
- New Age spirituality grown due to shift towards exploring inner self
- Trad religions demand duty and obedience
- Evangelical demand discipline but emphasise importance of spiritual healing
Bruce
(Weakness of New Age)
New Age forms of religion needs to be on much larger scale to fill gap left by decline of traditional religions
Glendinning and Bruce
(Weakness of New Age)
Although many dabbled in mediation, serious commitment was very rare
Davie
(Believing without belonging)
Religion is not declining but taking different privatised form - people increasingly reluctant to belong to organisations but still believe
Davie
(Vicarious Religion)
Vicarious religion = religion practiced by minority on behalf of majority
In Europe major national churches seen as public utilities - ‘Spiritual Health Service’ - there for everyone when needed
^ E.g: weddings/funerals and national occasions
Day
(Neither believing or belonging)
2011 census show 63% of people identified Christian
- found very few ‘Christians’ interviewed mentioned God or Christianity - another way of saying their “White British”
Hervieu - Leger
Individual consumerism has replaced collective tradition - have a choice as consumers of religion, become spiritual shoppers
Pilgrims = follow individual path in search for self discovery
Converts = join religious groups that offer sense of belonging
Lyon
Believing without belonging increasingly popular due to shift from modern to postmodern society
^ postmodern society has a number of features changing nature of religion. E.g: Globilisation and media
Helland
Distinguishes 2 types of internet activity:
. Religion online = religious organisations use internet to address members and potential converts
. Online religion = ‘cyber religion’ may have no existence outside internet
Hoover et al
Many users of online religion use it as a supplement to their church - based activities
Lyon
(New Age)
new forms of religion focus on key idea of individualism - reject obligation and obedience to external force
. We are in a period of re-enchantment
Stark and Bainbridge
Religious market theory
. People naturally religious and religion meets human needs = demand remains consistent
. Human nature to seek rewards and avoid costs = how people make choices
Stark and Bainbridge
(USA VS Europe)
Religion thrives in USA as never been religious monopoly. Constitution guarantees freedom of religion - separation from state = great variety
Finke
Lifting of restrictions on Asian immigration into USA allowed Asian religions to set up permenantly
Norris and Inglehart
High levels of religious participation exist in Catholic countries where church monopolises (Ireland)
^ RMT only applies to USA
Norris and Inglehart
(Secularisation and Security)
Global population growth undermines trend towards secularisation. Western countries = low population growth
Gill and Lundegaarde
More a country spends on welfare, lower the level of religious participation
Vasque
Accepts Norris and Inglehart offers valuable explanation but only sees religion as negative response to deprivation
