secularisation Flashcards
Wilson- definition
Western societies have been undergoing a long-term process of secularisation
Secularisation- the process whereby religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, lose social significance
Crockett- Adults who attend church every Sunday
1851: 40% or more
1960: 10-15%
2015: 5%
Weddings in church
1971: 60%
2012: 30%
Weber- rationalisation
Rational ways of thinking have replaced religious ones.
Started with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation where they started asking questions about religion.
This leads to the disenchantment of the world- it’s less magical/religious.
Bruce- technological world view
Technology and science have taken over from religious explanations of the world.
Only use religious explanations when science is inadequate e.g with incurable diseases.
Parsons- structural differentiation
Religion has become a smaller and more specialised institution, which leads to disengagement because it has become part of the private sphere.
Berger- religious diversity
In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church had a ‘sacred canopy’, where it was the only religion most people knew about.
Now with the diversity of religion, there are multiple truths, which undermines religions ‘plausibility structure’
Bruce- two counter-trends
Cultural defence: religion is used to defend a group e.g when Poland became more catholic to oppose communism, and the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Cultural transition: religion helps migrants by keeping their culture/identity with them in a new place.
Wilson (America)
America is becoming more secular because of religion becoming more superficial, not because of decline in participation.
Berger- criticism
She changed her view and says that greater choice and diversity inspires and stimulates interest in religion.
Bruce 3 pieces of evidence for secularisation (America)
- decline in church attendance
- secularisation from within
- increase in diversity and choice
Hadaway- decline in church attendance (America)
Level of attendance claimed by Americans was 83% higher than the actual attendance recorded.
(Bruce says this masks the actual attendance in church in the US).
Bruce- secularisation from within (America)
There’s a decline in commitment to religious beliefs.
The focus has changed from seeking salvation in heaven, to personal improvement.
Bruce- religious diversity (America)
Practical relativism- accepting that others are entitled to beliefs that are different from your own.
Erosion of absolutism- we now live in a society where people hold different views, which undermines the validity of our own views.
