Secularisation + religion in a global context

Question 1

Wilson, 1966

Answer 1

Decline of the significance of religious beliefs, practices + organisations.

Question 2

Berger

Answer 2

“Extreme Pluralism” = both religious + scientific beliefs still exist within society.
Both religion + science have roles within society however, science has more significance.

Question 3

Parsons, 1974

Answer 3

Structural differentiation = role of religion has changed, its more specialised.

Question 4

Huxley, 1952

Answer 4

“The Devils of Loudun” = the medieval Church wasn’t respected because of greed/sexual misconduct/etc.

Question 5

Acquavita, 1979

Answer 5

“The Decline of the Sacred in Industrial Society” = globalisation of secularisation + globalisation + globalisation of the decline of the influence of Christianity.

Question 6

Martin

Answer 6

Religious statistics lack reliability + validity.

Religious statistics can’t be used to test religious beliefs.

Question 7

Demaroth + Hammond

Answer 7

Religious practice doesn’t correspond to someone’s religiosity.

Question 8

Hadden

Answer 8

Gallop Polls = show that a lot of Americans believe in God.

Question 9

Berger + Luckman

Answer 9

Theory of Rationalisation = people turn to logic.

Question 10

Herberg

Answer 10

Rationalism is promoted within religious organisations = undermines the emphasis on the supernatural.

Question 11

Casanova

Answer 11

Structural differentiation is at the core of secularisation because it involves the separation of religion from the State.

Question 12

Bruce, 1995

Answer 12

Religion becomes less important within society because some of its previous functions are taken over.
2 sources of religious Pluralism within society =
1) cultural defence/transition.
2) NRMs = religious pluralism/fragmentation.

Question 13

Greely + Nelson

Answer 13

the growth of NRMs is proof of religious revival within society.

Question 14

Glock + Bellah

Answer 14

Even in industrial society people seek religion + fulfillment as an alternative to science.

Question 15

Kepel

Answer 15

NRMs are created within society as a reaction to modernity creating a lack of belonging.

Question 16

Crockett

Answer 16

19th Century = “Golden Age Religiosity” =

1998 = estimates that in 1851, 40% of the adult population, attended a Church.

Question 17

Gill et al

Answer 17

100 national surveys (1939-1996) = show a decline in the belief of a personal God/ afterlife.

Question 18

Woodhead + Heelas

Answer 18

Traditional religions have declined + been replaced by more successful evangelical groups (NRMs).

Question 19

Hadaway

Answer 19

Believes that Church attendance level is exaggerated through statistics e.g. Ohio = 83% higher than reality.

Question 20

Lynd + Lynd

Answer 20

Absolutism is declining even amongst believers because of Post-modernism/etc.

Question 21

Davie

Answer 21

“Believing without belonging” = religion isn’t declining it’s just taking a more privatised form.

Question 22

Hervieu-Leger

Answer 22

People now have “cultural amnesia” = religion isn’t passed down from 1 generation to the next anymore. People are now “Spiritual shoppers” + it’s their choice.

Question 23

Lyon

Answer 23

Post-modern society = new religious forms.

Religion has been deinstitutionalised = people “pick-and-mix” parts from different religions to create an identity.

Question 24

Stark + Bainbridge

Answer 24

Religion Market Theory = people make a rational choice about religion based on benefits.
Religion is attractive due to supernatural compensation.

Question 25

Norris + Inglehart

Answer 25

Religion is a response to deprivation.

High religiosity in countries where there is a high level of threat to people’s lives.

Question 26

Gill + Lundegaarde

Answer 26

In countries where a lot is spent on welfare = lower level of religiosity.

Question 27

Nanda

Answer 27

India = increasing amount of religiosity = Tele-Gurus = wealth is given to them by God.

Question 28

Giddens

Answer 28

Fundamentalists want to return to the fundamentals of their faith = reaction to globalisation.

Question 29

Bruce

Answer 29

Fundamentalism is different in the west to the LEDCs (less economically developed countries).
West = reaction to change in society.
LEDCs = Reaction to factors outside of the society, which caused a change within society.

Question 30

Huntington

Answer 30

“Clash of civilisations”