Secularisation DCT Flashcards
What is secularisation?
The process by which religion plays a smaller role in society.
What is theocracy/fundamentalism?
The ultra-conservative view that a religion should have total political power.
What is secularism?
The view that religion and government should be separate.
What is militant atheism or anti-theism?
The view that religion is harmful even as a private belief and should face social and cultural pressure.
How did Freud describe religious belief?
As psychological wish fulfilment caused by fear of chaos and adult life.
What did Freud mean by religion as ‘unconscious wish fulfilment’?
Religion provides comfort from fear of life’s unpredictability.
How did Freud think religion should be replaced?
By scientific understanding for order and predictability.
What was Freud’s view on religion’s origins?
He believed religious doctrines came from the ‘ignorant childhood days of the human race’.
How does Dawkins view religious belief?
As irrational and based on wishful thinking.
Why does Dawkins compare religion to fairy tales?
Because both are unscientific and childish ways to explain reality.
How does McGrath respond to Freud and Dawkins?
He argues that adults convert to religion based on rational arguments.
Why does McGrath think the Santa Claus analogy is flawed?
Because no adults believe in Santa Claus, but many rational adults believe in God.
What does Dawkins say about faith and evidence?
He argues faith is belief without or even despite evidence.
How does Dawkins interpret the story of doubting Thomas?
As promoting belief without evidence.
What is McGrath’s defence of religious rationality?
He cites Aquinas’ 5 ways as showing logical reasons for belief.
What is the ‘God of the gaps’ argument?
It claims religion is based on filling in gaps in scientific knowledge.
How does Dawkins view ‘God of the gaps’?
As irrational and worshipping ignorance.
What is McGrath’s response to ‘God of the gaps’?
He agrees it’s flawed and outdated, and cites Swinburne’s arguments.
How does Swinburne respond to scientific limits?
Science tells us the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’ or purpose.
What does Dawkins say about questions of purpose?
They are invalid like asking the color of jealousy.
What is militant atheism?
The belief that society would be better without religion even privately.
What is Hitchens’ critique of religion?
That it seeks to convert others and threatens peaceful communities.
What does McGrath say about militant atheism?
He claims it unfairly targets all religious people.
How does Sam Harris view moderate religion?
As dangerous for legitimising faith and enabling extremism.
What does Dawkins say about faith education?
It promotes unquestioning thinking and supports extremism.
Why does McGrath call Dawkins a fundamentalist?
Because of his biased portrayal and lack of academic standards.
How does Dawkins respond to McGrath’s accusation?
By claiming disbelief in one religion doesn’t make him dogmatic.
What does Dawkins say about religion and violence?
Religion causes prejudice, violence and in-group/out-group hostility.
What is McGrath’s response to Dawkins’ claims?
That Jesus preached peace and love, and Christians fail to live up to him.
How does McGrath argue Christianity promotes progress?
It has the tools for reform and already has reformed.
What is Freud’s view of religion and morality?
Religion tames instincts but causes repression and unhappiness.
What is Freud’s proposed alternative to religious morality?
Autonomy and rational acceptance of social rules.
What are the limitations of Freud’s critique?
It mostly applies to traditional Augustinian Christianity.
Can liberal theology overcome Freud’s critique?
Yes, through autonomy, flexibility, and relevance to modern life.
How is Aquinas’ natural law different from Augustine?
It allows rational engagement and flexibility.
What is the argument that secularism can also be harmful?
20th-century secular regimes caused immense violence.
What example does McGrath use to criticise atheism?
The Soviet Union’s violence against religion.
What is Pope Benedict XVI’s argument?
Excluding religion leads to a void of values and moral nihilism.
What is Sam Harris’ counter to Benedict and McGrath?
Atheistic societies score better on human development indicators.
What is Craig’s argument about objective morality?
Without God, moral views are subjective and culturally relative.
What does Harris say about atheists and morality?
They are not less moral; many atheistic societies are healthier.
What is Bonhoeffer’s idea of the Church’s role?
To be a check on state power and protect society from evil.
What is a secularist critique of Bonhoeffer?
Church isn’t needed; democracy and secularism ensure peace.
How does Hauerwas support Bonhoeffer?
He argues secularism causes a moral void exploited by authoritarians.
What is Nietzsche’s critique of Christianity?
It causes a harmful dependence on supernatural meaning.
What is Bonhoeffer’s concept of ‘this-worldliness’?
Focusing on real-world actions and suffering with God.
What is ‘religionless Christianity’?
A form of Christianity adapted to modern secular society.
Why do some Christians reject Bonhoeffer’s theology?
They believe he abandoned too much doctrine.
What is Dawkins’ view on faith schools?
They indoctrinate and damage children’s critical thinking.
What is McGrath’s view on religious education?
It should be accurate and not blind indoctrination.
