Secularisation Flashcards
Stats to show secularisation is occurring
Census 2021 - 37% stated they had no religion , only 15% in 2001
Why is secularisation happening? - Rationalisation
Weber
Logical ways of thinking replace traditional religious ones
Protestant reformation began process of rationalisation in the west, undermined religious worldview and replaced it with a scientific outlook
Structural differentiation
specialised institutions carry out functions that were previously carried out by a single institution. Parsons argus that in pre-industrial society religion was the dominant institution.
- Structural differentiation leads to the disengagement of religion, its functions are transferred to the state and religion becomes disconnected from society.
Religion has become privatised
Bruce
- confined to the private area of the home and family, a personal choice. Religion has lost its influence on wider society.
- In modern society religion has become separated from the state, even in religious schools the schools must conform to requirements of the secular state,
- for example all schools are legally required to teach about contraception even if this went against religious teaching.
Sacred canopy
Burger
Catholic Church had absolute monopoly, no completion, however after the Protestant reformation, increased religious diversity, it undermined the plausibility structure of religion as there are now various versions of the truth, don’t know which one to believe
Eval for Sacred canopy
Beckford - Religious diversity can strengthen a commitment to a religion rather than undermining them because opposing views can make people more confident that their own views are true
Industrialisation
Bruce
Led to the decline of religion and community
Pre-industrial society, shared values are expressed through collective religious rituals
Industrialisation led to decline in stable, local communities
Plausibility of beliefs is undermined by religious diversity
Eval of industrialisation
Aldridge
Religion can be a source of identity, on a worldwide scale true of Jewish, Hindus and Muslim communities
Some religious communities interact through the use of global media
Believing without belonging
Davies
Religion isn’t declining, people believe but are reluctant to belong to organisations either these are churches or political institutions - but people still hold religious beliefs
People practise vicarious religion - religion is practised by an active minority on behalf of the great majority - people experience religion second hand
Eval for believing without belonging
Bruce
If people are not willing to invest time into going to church this reflects declining strength of their belief - when people no longer believe, they no longer with to belong
How has consumerism changed religion?
Religion is individualised
Hervieu Leger - Pick n mix, we no longer have to sign up to one specific religious tradition, we now pick and mix elements of different religions to suit our tastes and make them part of our identities
How was globalisation changed religion?
Lyon
Religion is changing not declining
Globalisation - societies becoming more interconnected
Religious ideas have become disembedded, meaning removed from physical locations and relocating them to the internet
Allows people to express their religion without physically attending church and religious ideas have become cultural resources that individuals adapt for their own purposes
How has globalisation changed religion? Religious activity on the Internet
Helland
Religion online - top down communication, religious organisations use internet to address members, no feedback or dialogue between parties
Online religion - Form of cyber religion, allows individuals to create non hierarchical relations and a sense of community, visit virtual worship or meditation spaces
How has religion changed? Spirituality
Heelas & Woodhead - contrast relation and spirituality
Religion sees life as duty
Spirituality sees life as discovery
Religion promotes respect, submission and conforming to authority
Spirituality - promotes autonomy and connecting with inner self
Religion - reinforces traditional values in family life
Spirituality - importance of emotional bonds and self expressions in family life
How is religion changing - Re-enchantment
Lyon
Criticises secularisation theory
Period of re-enchantment, with growth of unconventional beliefs, spirituality
Spiritual revolution is taking place, traditional Christianity is replaced by New Age practises that emphasise personal development
Growth of ‘spiritual market’
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