Secularisation Flashcards
What is secularisation?
Secularisation refers to the decline in the importance of religion in society. Wilson defines it as ‘the process whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose social significance.’
What evidence supports secularisation?
Evidence from the 1851 Census of Religious Worship indicates that 40% or more of the adult population of Britain attended church on Sundays, a much higher figure than today.
What changes in religion have occurred in the UK since the 1851 Census?
There has been a decline in traditional Christian beliefs, fewer baptisms and church weddings, and a decrease in church attendance.
What was church attendance in England and Wales by the 1960s?
Church attendance had fallen from 40% in the mid-19th century to 10-15% by the 1960s, leading Wilson to conclude that Britain had become a secular society.
What was church attendance in Britain by 2015?
By 2015, about 5% of the adult population attended church on Sundays, more than halving since the 1960s.
What trend has been observed in infant baptisms?
Infant baptisms have steadily declined, with the number of Catholic baptisms today being under half those in 1964.
What are ‘bogus baptisms’?
‘Bogus baptisms’ refer to the increase in baptisms of older children due to faith schools requiring baptized children for admission.
What does religious affiliation refer to?
Religious affiliation refers to a person’s identification with a religion, showing a decline in those affiliated with a religion.
What change occurred in religious affiliation between 1983 and 2014?
The percentage of adults with no religion rose from around a third to around a half, while those identifying as Christian fell by a third.
What is the status of ‘Other Christians’ since 1983?
‘Other Christians’ include denominations like Methodists and Baptists, remaining static at 17% of the population, but attachment to specific denominations has decreased.
What does evidence show about religious beliefs today?
Surveys indicate a significant decline in belief in a personal god, Jesus as the son of God, and Christian teachings.
How has the influence of religious institutions changed?
The influence of religion as a social institution has declined, with the state taking over many functions previously performed by the church.
What is structural differentiation?
Structural differentiation is a process of specialisation where separate institutions develop to carry out functions previously performed by a single institution.
What is the impact of structural differentiation on religion?
Religion has become a smaller and more specialised institution, losing influence on education, social welfare, and law.
What does cultural defence refer to?
Cultural defence is when religion serves as a focal point for defending national or group identity against external forces.
What is cultural transition?
Cultural transition occurs when religion provides support for ethnic groups, such as migrants adapting to a new culture.
What is secularisation from within?
Secularisation from within refers to how American religion has adjusted to modernity, becoming less traditional and more therapeutic.
What trend in churchgoers’ attitudes has been observed?
Churchgoers are less strict in adherence to traditional religious morality, with a significant decline in the belief that drinking alcohol is morally wrong.
What does the growth of religious diversity indicate?
The growth of religious diversity contributes to secularisation by fostering practical relativism among churchgoers.
What is the ‘sacred canopy’ concept?
The sacred canopy refers to the absolute monopoly of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, providing a unified set of beliefs.
What is the crisis of credibility for religion?
Religious diversity undermines the ‘plausibility structure’ of religion, leading to questioning of traditional beliefs.
What are criticisms of the arguments for secularisation?
Critics argue that community can exist globally, and that diversity may stimulate interest in religion rather than diminish it.
What is Bruce’s view on cultural defence and transition?
Bruce identifies these as counter-trends to secularisation, showing that religion can survive as a focus for group identity.
What evidence supports Bruce’s conclusion about religion?
Evidence shows that churchgoing declines in Poland after the fall of communism, indicating religion’s importance diminishes with integration.
What did Wilson find about church attendance in America in 1962?
Wilson found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sundays, viewing it more as an expression of the ‘American way of life’ than deep beliefs.
What is the trend of secularisation from within in America?
American religion has become less religious, focusing more on personal improvement than traditional beliefs.
What does practical relativism mean?
Practical relativism involves acceptance of differing beliefs among churchgoers, leading to a decline in absolutism.
What did Lynd and Lynd’s study reveal about churchgoing youth?
The study found a decline in the belief that Christianity is the one true religion, from 94% in 1924 to 41% in 1977.
What is the counterpart to practical relativism?
The erosion of absolutism.
What does the erosion of absolutism imply?
We live in a society where many people hold views that are completely different from ours, undermining the assumption that our own views are absolutely true.
What is a criticism of secularisation theory regarding the past?
The past was not a ‘golden age’ of faith from which we have declined.
What is a criticism of secularisation theory regarding the future?
The future will not be an age of atheism.
What does evidence of falling church attendance ignore?
It ignores people who believe but don’t go to church.
What is the current status of religion according to critics of secularisation theory?
Religion is not declining but simply changing its form.
