Secularisation Flashcards
Who is the main theorist for secularisation?
Brian Wilson
Wilson says that Western societies are undergoing secularisation because England is already secular. What statistic proves the secularisation of England?
Church attenders in England and Wales (including weddings, baptism, Sunday school attendance).
Mid 19th century – 40%
1960s – 15%
2015 – 5%
How does Wilson define secularisation?
Secularisation is a process whereby religion loses its influence over the various spheres of social life.
Durkheim blames the rise of secularisation on the rise of two things, what are these things?
Individualism and Rationalisation. Traditions, values, emotions are no longer motivators for behaviour.
What does Marx say about secularisation?
Secularisation is inevitable and the rise of communism would kill religion.
How does Weber argue that rationalisation caused secularisation?
What is a different thing Weber argues to contribute to secularisation?
- Rationalisation stripped the world of mystery, took away the meaning that religion gave to some people’s lives. People depended more on medicine than faith.
- Disenchantment - God created the world to leaves us to it. (Abandoned humanity)
Secularisation was caused by society breaking apart from a ‘sacred canopy’ of Catholicism, that led to a plurality of world views with various interpretations of the truth.
Who argues the point above?
Berger
Religion was a source of education and social welfare but these functions were lost to a secular state and religion is now a privatised, personal choice.
What is the name of this theory and who is behind it?
Structural differentiation - Parsons
The industrial revolution broke up small-close knit communities that often expressed themselves through their religion. Geographical mobility introduced new religions to these communities and there is no plausibility on everyone’s religions beliefs being true.
Who are the two sociologists who came up with this theory and what is the theory’s name?
Social and Cultural Diversity - Wilson and Bruce
Wilson found that !!% of Americans attended church on Sunday but they did it for an ……… ……… . Wilson argues America became secular not because people abandoned church but because it became ………… .
Wilson found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sunday but they did it for an American Lifestyle . Wilson argues America became secular not because people abandoned church but because it became Superficial.
Someone’s study found that in 19?? that !!% of churchgoing young people agreed with the statement ‘Christianity is the one true religion and all people should be converted to it.’ However by 19!! only ??% agreed.
Someone’s study found that in 1924 that 94% of churchgoing young people agreed with the statement ‘Christianity is the one true religion and all people should be converted to it.’ However by 1977 only 41% agreed.
Who created the theory believing without belonging?
Grace Davie
