Secularisation

Question 1

Wilson - church attendance

Answer 1

Mid 19th century 40% went to church by 1960 it was 10-15%. - therefore Britain is secularising. 2015- 5% of adults went on Sundays.

Question 2

The declining clergy

Answer 2

20th century clergy fell from 45,000 to 34,000 should be at over 80,000 based on population size. Only 12% under age 40.
The state has also taken over many of the functions once done by the church.

Question 3

Weber - rationalisation

Answer 3

Rational ways of acting and thinking replace religious ones.
Catholic view- angels, god and magical things changed the course of events, they could only be changed by praying and magic etc.
Protestant reformation- saw god existing outside the world, god simply created the world but did not effect anything in the world. This meant god no longer explained views, this meant rational thinking could explain the laws of nature.

Question 4

Bruce- technological worldview

Answer 4

When something happens we know look at what malfunctioned rather than saying god punished us, when a plane crashes we look at the technological issue. We still use religion when technology can’t do anything, we pray when the lines has no cure.

Question 5

Parsons -structural differentiation

Answer 5

Specialisation that occurs with the development of industrial society, specialised institutions now perform the roles the church once did (a single institution).

Question 6

Bruce- privatised religion

Answer 6

Religion is now in the sphere of the home and family. Religious beliefs are a personal choice and religious institutions have lost their influence on society.

Question 7

social and cultural diversity - Wilson and Bruce

Answer 7

Wilson- industrialisation has broken down the community before this religion held communities together, they shared these values and rituals. No more local communities so religion is less important.
Bruce- industrialisation create larger, more diverse communities. These lead to an issue of plausibility, not all of these religions could be true so how do you know your one is the right one.

Question 8

Berger- The sacred canopy

Answer 8

Middle ages the church held a monopoly, it was the one answer and everyone believed it and made it more plausible as there were no other answers. after the reformation more religions came into existence, this created a plurality of life worlds, there was no longer a shared answer, rather now different truths.
This also makes religion less plausible, some many religions all with differing answers, none can be right then.

Question 9

Bruce - cultural defence and transition

Answer 9

Defence- religion provides a focal point for the oppressed (ethnic, national) against an external force. Popularity of catholicism before the fall of communism.
Transition- religion provides support and a sense of community for ethnic groups.

Question 10

Hadaway

Answer 10

American church attendance is a lie, if 40% of Americans went to church all the churches would be full.

Question 11

Bruce - secularisation for within

Answer 11

Less secularisation in America as religion has changed with the times, it no longer focuses on getting into heaven but instead focuses on self improvement.