Secularisation

Question 1

‘Golden age of religiosity’

Answer 1

1851 - census of religious worship 40% of adult population attended church

Question 2

How has church attendance changed in the ‘golden age of religiosity’?

Answer 2

It has decreased (6.3% in 2005)
When asked ‘would you describe yourself as being of any religion or denomination’? 1950 - 23% said no
1996 - 43% sad no

Question 3

Rationalisation - ‘enchanted garden’

Answer 3

Weber argued the medieval world view was of an ‘enchanted garden’ with angels and devils

Question 4

Rationalisation - Protestant Reformation

Answer 4

Ideas were challenged by a more rational view. They saw God as transcendent rather than interventionist - began to consider a more scientific way

Question 5

Rationalisation - Example

Answer 5

Disease could be explained scientifically and cured by applying our knowledge of the human body and the way it works.
No longer need to [ray for healing
more technology = less need for God
(disenchantment)

Question 6

Rationalisation - Bruce

Answer 6

Supernatural explanations have been replaced with technological worldview - e.g. if a ship sinks its not evil spirits, but probably unusual weather patterns

Question 7

Structural Differentiation

Answer 7

Parsons - large institutions (church) have been replaced with small ones (wedding planners) = no longer need church
Leads to disengagement of religion - privatized

Question 8

Social and Cultural Diversity

Answer 8

Bruce - now live in large urban communities = diverse groups which each have their own different values and beliefs

Question 9

Social and Cultural Diversity - how it undermines religion

Answer 9

We recognise alternative values to those we have been taught = begin to question whether our beliefs are right

Question 10

Religious Diversity

Answer 10

Berger - middle ages only the catholic church and it was never questioned. The protestant reformation encouraged people to think for themselves = formed their own types of churches
Undermines the plausibility of religion

Question 11

Cultural Transition

Answer 11

Bruce - religion provides support and a sense of community amongst migrants
E.g. catholic churches are meeting points for eastern European migrants in the UK

Question 12

Cultural Defence

Answer 12

Provides a focal point for the defence of a group identity - e.g. the importance of church to slaves or the civil rights movement

Question 13

Berger - diversity can cause interest

Answer 13

Diversity can stimulate interest and participation in religion - e.g. New Christian Right in US united people in fear of Islam
Meeting someone with opposing views can strengthen their own beliefs

Question 14

New Age beliefs

Answer 14

It doesn’t really reverse the trend of secularisation as its about people finding themselves and no about their ‘duty’ to God and conforming to traditional values

Question 15

Exclusivist and inclusivist interpretation of religion

Answer 15

exclusivist - it is in decline

inclusivist - many people still look for a spiritual meaning, even though its not through religious channels

Question 16

Methodological problems

Answer 16

Problems assessing data - e.g. the way questions are asked can change the information obtained = comparing surveys are unreliable

Question 17

Methodological problems - census

Answer 17

the main householder will probably fill in data on behalf of young people, and list them as ‘Christian’ but they may not be

Question 18

Methodological problems - cultural

Answer 18

Difficult to decide whether a survey can represent the country as a whole - e.g. deprived inner city London may receive different results to a similar area in another city, because of the high numbers if immigrants

Question 19

Methodological problems - history

Answer 19

Historical records aren’t reliable - e.g. few people could read or write, so the few records that do exist were based on the views of the privileged minority