Secularisation

Question 1

Wilson

Answer 1

• Secularisation - process where religious beliefs, practices + institutions have lost social significance.
• Western societies have been undergoing a long-term process of secularisation.

Question 2

Weber

Answer 2

• Rationalisation - rational ways of thinking have replaced religious ones due to technological advancements.
• Disenchantment - Protestant Reformation started the process of rationalisation.

Question 3

Bruce

Answer 3

• Technological worldview - scientific explanations have replaced supernatural ones.
• Consumerist religion is weak - little effect on the lives of adherents + rise as evidence for secularisation.

Question 4

Davie

Answer 4

• Believing Without Belonging - people hold religious beliefs but don’t go to church.
• Helland: online religion.

Question 5

Helland

Answer 5

• Religion Online - religious organisations use internet to address members + partial converts.
• Online Religion - cyber-religion that’s only on the internet.
• Postmodernists: new alternative replacing religion.
• Hoover: supplement for church-based activities.

Question 6

Stark + Bainbridge

Answer 6

• Religious Market theory:
  1. People are naturally religious.
  2. People make rational choice based on benefits of available options.
• Religion is attractive because it provides compensation when real life rewards are unavailable, e.g. heaven.

Question 7

Berger

Answer 7

• Religious diversity undermines religion’s plausibility structure - believability.
• This makes people question religion.

Question 8

Lyon

Answer 8

• Globalisation: religion is giving wat to new religious forms.
• Relocation of religion.
• Disembbedding + De-Institutionalisation
• Religious Consumerism (Spiritual Shopping).