✅Secularism Flashcards
What is secularism?
The idea that religious beliefs and institutions should not affect how the state is run- all belief systems are equal in the eyes of the law
Examples of secular states
France and the United States.
What is secularisation?
Process of making a society more schedular by removing the influence of religious institutes.
Who believes god is an illusion and the result of wishful fulfilment?
Freud, Dawkins. Said society would be happier without Christianity as it is infantile, repressive and accuses conflict.
Who views that Christianity should play no part in public life?
Secular humanists, that Christina’s belief is personal and should play no part in public life, including education and schools, and government and state
What does infantile mean?
Childish, for Freud, this referred to the earliest stage of a persons development.
What is neurosis?
A mental illness with symptoms of stress which as anxiety and obsessive disorder.
What did Freud and Dawkins think of religion?
God is an illusion and a wish fulfilment, it is infantile, repressive and accuses conflict.
Who was Freud? And what was his core belief?
An atheist psychoanalyst who believed religion is the cause of neuroses, and that some point in the future, science will be able to answer all the key questions because psychoanalysis will cure people of religious belief
What is the Oedipus complex?
A boy learns he cannot sexually possess his mother, and feels jealously towards his father. This resentment is repressed into the subconscious mind and projects onto the idea of God. God is the ultimate father figure
How was freuds ideas expressed in cultures?
Expressed in primitive cultures through the totem poles. The Phillip symbol of maleness in societies where one went to seek forgiveness. In modern society, this is the make God we seek comfort from through religious ritual.
What is “universal obsessional neurosis” to Freud?
The repetition of the worship which is obsessional and found in all parts of society.
Why does Freud think religion is bad?
It is unhealthy and this leads to negativity within society, it causes conflicts,
Quote of Dawkins to describe religious taught to children?
“There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point.”
The god delusions
What is Dawkins? And what is his main belief?
Evolutionary biologist known for his rejection of a need for a creator God, given the evidence for evolution, and the increased understanding of scientific practices.
Why does Dawkins think religion is and for society?
It is problematic for society, as it causes war and conflict, it holds children back, and it is a form of child abuse because parts label their Children before they can think for themselves.
Why does Dawkins think religious people are absurd?
Christians who believe eviction and the Big Bang didn’t happen and the world was literally created there in the book Genesis, 6000 years ago and in 6 days, is silly. There is so much evidence against this that Dawkins is demonstrating their ignorance.
Why do people think Christina believes should play no part in public life
Secular humanists think it shouldn’t, as people can live happy lives whiteout religion
What is secular humanism?
Term used for those who thinks humans can live positive, good lives without religion. While not necessarily an organised group, humanists have come together to declare common values.
What fraction of schools are state schools?
One third of schools in United Kingdom are faith schools. Mainly Church of England and Roman Catholic foundations.
What does Dawkins think about faith schools?
Opponent of faith education and believes it is time for them to me replaced.
Arguments for faith schools
Only one third are faith schools, so people still have a choice
Church attendance has been dropping but many still consider themselves Christian and should be allowed to reflect this in edicational choices
All schools have mission statements and value systems of one sort of another, so faith schools are no different from other schools
It reflects diversity and tolerance, fundamental British values
Pupils in faith schools are as diverse as the societies they exist in, they aren’t necessarily made up only of their faith background.
Arguments against faith schools
Labelling children from a young age.
Teaching in some areas, such as RE and science, might be subject to bias.
Children in faith schools are not fully aware of the rest of the secular society
Faith schools might reflect some people’s narrow views of what religious people are like
Faith should be something only taught by parents and religious communities
How does religious link to the government?
UK historically has close ties between Christianity and the state. Chrihc of England is a national Church and the queen is its supreme governor. Some bishops have automatic seats in the shoe of lords. Some argue these historic links should be separate because it would reflect the reality of the 21st century Britain.
Roman quote of government and state
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which god has established”
Romans 13.1
Why is religion and state a good thing?
It’s a representative of how the country is made up. Representative from faith traditions outside the church of England are not represented in the House of Lords as well.
Why has it been argued that secularisation of the state can lead to censorship of approaches?
As it favours of a different, non religious ideology, which is still itself an ideology. It could be argued that this led to fascism and communism. A more balanced approach to secularism can celebrate all perspectives, including religious ones.
Is Christianity a major cause of personal and social problems?
YES
Christianity has been the cause of warfare when it has tried to gain supremacy over other traditions, such as the crusades.
Rejects indisputable advances of science
Some of the stances don’t match with modern society
Homosexuality is still considered evil
Oppresses women
Stops personal development
Absolutist approach to life, eg euthanasia
Child abuse scandals.
Places trust in the bible that is outdated
Differing beliefs can divide families
Some Christian evangelicals do so to earn money, not to preach faith
Is Christianity a major cause of personal and social problems?
No
Christians would emphasis they are a community
Seeking the ideal way to live, based on Jesus’ commands to love etc.
Some Christians would reject denominations, other than their own and say that the divided church might be the cause of problems, not the religion itself.
Does something become RIGHT because society accept it??
Christianity points to all the good that the church has offered to the world, educating th poor, working abroad, supporting civil right movements, eg Martin luther king etc,
“Let anyone who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”
John
8.7
Are secularism and secularisation opportunities for Christianity?
YES
Christianity is open to changing again.
Pace of the change in scientific understanding, the results of brutalities in the 20th century violence etc,
Some may use the opportunity to analyse why society is attracted to this change and try to look for new opportunities for evangelism or education about Christianity.
Choose to embrace this as a opportunity o speak without fear of being sidelined as a minority view.
Removing Christian influence in House of Lords would be more tolerant towards non Christian members- argued that this aspect is there for ritual only, and not the running of the government,
Are secularism and secularisation opportunities for Christianity?
NO
Some Christians would argue that now, more than ever, it is time for Christians to stand up for the truth revealed through Christ and the bible and to resist the change moving forward.
Argue that Christianity would be side lined, and it might lead to religion being able to affect the lives of far fewer people
Are spiritual values just human values?
The fullest list of humanist values can be found in the 2002 Amsterdam declaration. List of seven core values:
Ethics, rationality, human rights, social responsibility, fulfilment, and importance of creativity.
These are obviously very similar to religious values.
10 commandments- core ethics that are universal, you don’t have to believe in god to obey them.
What Is the Amsterdam declaration?
2002, shows al the humanistic values.
What are the differences between Christina values and secularist values?
Christina values do different. Upholding the dignity of life over personal choice and loving your enemies are examples of values that Make Christianity distinctive.
Christians might argue that human values tend to be shared on a worldly level, but that there is an additional layer or dimension to Christianity. Ultimate purpose and a world beyond this, for example.
Should Christianity be a significant contributor to society’s culture and values?
YES
Britain today wouldn’t be the country it is without Christianity
Our artistic heritage such as art, architecture and music etc, Owens much to Christianity
Christianity can contribute without being dominant in the conversation
Christian ethics on a human level are ethics that apply to all, not just Christianity
Should Christianity be a significant contributor to society’s culture and values?
NO
Britain today and tomorrow is much more multi-cultural than 50 years ago
There is wonderful heritage in non-Christian artistic cultures
All religious voices need to be moved away from in order to move forward in society
If this is the case then the ethics do not need to be distinctly Christian
What does Dawkins think about Christianity being a contributor?
Doesn’t think Christianity’s contribution to British society should be ignored. He praised the literary legacy of the King James Bible, for example. However, he doesn’t think that Christianity should be a diving force in shaping the society of tomorrow because it is time we moved being religious ideals.
British humanist association quote
“We want a world where everyone ,goes cooperatively on the basis of shared human values, respect for human rights and the concern for future generations”
Roman Williams quotes
“Possible to imagine a procedurally secular society and legal system which is always open to being persuaded by confessional or ideological arguments, but it is not committed to privileging permanent any one confessional group.”
Mahatma Gandhi quote
If I were a dictator, religion and state would be separate. I swear by my religion. I will die for it. It it is my personal affair. The state has nothing to do with it.”
Procedural secularism
Belief that the role of state should be taken into account the interests of all its citizens and their institutions. Equal
Rowan Williams agrees with this.
What is programmatic secularism
The belief that the role of the state should be purely secular. France agrees with this.
What is la laïcité?
The principle enshrined in French law 1905 separation of the church and state, which separates the state the the religion.
What is the secularisation thesis?
A term used by social i lights to describe the process of secularisation. It is defined as the growing number of people who profess to have no religious affiliation, and as a situation where re
Legions ha slots it’s influence on society,
What even changed values of European and North America?
2001 9/11 terrorist attack of the Islamic group al-Qaeba.
Who is Roman Williams?
Archbishop of Canterbury, began his career as an academic theologian. His theology of the church is that as the body of Christ is must sustain diverse beliefs and practices.
