secularisation

Question 1

secularisation in Britain- Wilson

Answer 1

• decline in church attendance to 40%
• increase age of churchgoers
• fewer baptisms + church weddings
• greater diversity in religions

Question 2

evidence that Britain has become secular society (4)

Answer 2

1). church attendence- 5% attend sunday church, bogus baptism- for schools
2). religious affliations- christianity fell by 1/3rd
3). religious belief- decline in belief in personal god, jesus, christian teachings
4). religious institutions- influence has declined, state taken over functions

Question 3

explanations of secularisation

Answer 3

1. modernisation
2. rationalism (Weber)
3. structural differentiation
4. cultural + social diversity
5. religious diversity

Question 4

how has modernisation led to secularisation?

Answer 4

• involves decline of tradition and replaces with rational thinking, undermining religion
• industrialisation broke up small communities that were held together by common religious beliefs
• beliefs started colliding as growth of diversity undermined authority of religion

Question 5

how has rationalism led to secularisation?

Answer 5

• medieval catholic worldview saw world as enchanted garden where God + spiritual beings present through supernatural powers
• Protestant Reformation (saw God as beyond) led to disenchantment bc no longer needed religious explanations for world bc world explained by natural forces

Question 6

bruce- technological world view

Answer 6

• explains why things happen, we look for scientific technological explanations
• this leaves little room for religious explanations
• eg plane crash, lots dead= not regarded as evil spirits/ Gods punishment

Question 7

how has structural differntiation led to secularisation?

Answer 7

• church religion now has less influence because functions are transferred to other institutions.
• religion now privatised bc religion is now separate

Question 8

how has social and cultural diversity led to secularisation?

Answer 8

1. decline in community: preindustrial (shared values thr collectivist religions) to industrial
2. industrialisation: undermining consensus breaks up communities
3. diversity: plausibility of belief undermine views due to diff views

Question 9

3 criticisms that decline in community causes decline of religion

Answer 9

1. religion source of identity worldwide eg jewish communities
2. religious communities as imagined communities interacing thr global media
3. religious groups flourish in impersonal urban areas

Question 10

how has religious diversity led to secularisation? Berger

Answer 10

Berger- variety of religious organisations growing when churches/sects broke away so had diff versions of truth, due to alternative versions of truth= erodes absolute certainties

Question 11

criticisms of secularisation theory

Answer 11

1. religion in america is similar to us
2. Beckford- strengthens commitment, Chryside- renewed vigour
3. changing not declining
4. ignores NRMS/ religious retrievals
5. believing without belonging

Question 12

secularisation in america

Answer 12

1. Wilson- churchgoing as norm, not go= UnAmerican, religion superficial
2. Hadaway- church attendence exaggerated as 40% didnt match stat as would have been full
3. Bruce- socially desirable to go

Question 13

secularisation from within

Answer 13

Bruce- way american religion has adjusted to modern world its now a form of therapy as fits with secular world.
eg religiously affiliated 2007 92%, 2014 71%

Question 14

how has religious diversity led to secularisation- Bruce?

Answer 14

Erosion of absolutism- we now live in society where many people hold views completely diff to ours undermining assumption views are absolutely true