the challenge of secularism (11) Flashcards
england as christian country
christianity is embedded into institutions- like schools must broadly have christian worship and the monarch is the head of the Church of England
state/religion
very religious countries (like USA and France) have religion and state matters seperate
secularism vs secularisation
secularism= religious beliefs and institutions should not effect how a state is ran
secularisation= proccess of society changing to be less closely linked with religious values
UK non religious stats
2015- 6th least religious country in the world
70% 16-29 year olds have no religion
why should the UK be secular
- need for neutrality and shouldnt be one better system
- freedom of choice and avoidance of conflicts
- secularism works in other countries
secularism helps christianity develop
- Matthew 2:21, Christians are taught to practise their faith and position would no longer be taken for granted
- Jesus didnt come to change institutions as a whole, allow Christians to refocus on individual
- might help people understand eachother and spread christian message
secularism doesnt help christianity develop
- needs to hold onto the fact that Christ is unique, secularism is a threat to that fact
- a threat to evangelism and development
- just because the majority of people are rejecting Christ doesnt mean ignore 2000 years of history
Freud and science
Freud said society needed to develop rationality and must abolish religion and turn to science
pyschosexually
Freud thinks we develop this when young. basic drives push us to focus on the oral, then anal, then phallic.
neuroses
Freud said these can be explained by people regressing into physcosexuality. when people regress they are more guilty for their oedipus complex.
Oedipus complex
Freud theory that children have an unconsious sexual desire for their opposite sex parent and hatred for the same sex.
fathers/sons
Freud said sons who hate their fathers try and beg for forgiveness, historically tribes used to do this at totem poles. As religion developed from these societies then we have an ultimate father figure for forgiveness.
Freud and illusion
said religion was an illusion that came from the desire to gain forgiveness. Freud therefore calls religion- ‘universal obsessional neurosis’
religion in historical societies
Freud believed religon used to have a place in historical socities as it tended to calm humans violent nature. religion isnt about truth its abour its value in society.
Freud quote
“Immorality, no less than morality, has at all time found support in religion” immoral actions have been justified by religion
Wish fufilment
Freud said religion unconsious need for wish fufilment and move away from repressed guilt
Oceanic feeling
feeling of oneness brought about by religion. Freud thought this was desire to go back and close unity between child and mother.
God is an illusion and wish fufilment
- Religion used to have a place but it is now more important to move away and favour science
- David Hume saw religion as childish and practised by the uneducated
- feuerbach said religion is a projection of human aspects onto God
God isnt an illusion or wish fufilment
- Christianity has to many examples of belief to condense and reject them due to wish fufilment
- freud is merely projecting the neurosis of the minority onto the majority
- freud over simplifies belief as ritualistic and doesnt take into account other religions that dont care about guilt or a male god
Dawkins view on religion
said it has a disproportionate place in society and is frustratingly immune from criticism. God has too often been an excuse for bad behaviour.
The God Delusion
1: science is more appropriate than religion and just because science hasnt answered every questions doesnt mean it wont.
2: evolution replaces need for God. we can understand hwo humans developed
3: religion is a memetic, and has spread even though it is just an idea
The God Delusion extreme
- religion causes war and many 21st century conflicts could be avoided wihout religion
- it is a form of child abuse to label a child as something even before they can fully express what it means- a form of kidnapping
christianity is a major cause of problems
- established religion in the UK and creates a society where one group are more important
- holds back scientific advancements
- views on homosexuality and individual autonomy holds us back
- oppresses women through the belief in the Bible
christianity is not a major cause of problems
- wars like world war 2 were not religious
- dawkins uses extreme forms of religion and not representitive of all religions
- made up of people who use religion as an excuse, does not mean everybody does
- has a good track of social justice, unfair
humanism
living a good, happy life without any reference to God/religion. It is more scientific.
2002 Amsterdam decleration
set out humanist values. centrality of reason, freedom of individual but need for social responsibility, fufilment
humanists and secularism
society is pluralistic so institutions, gov and schools, should be neutral to reflect this and reject things like bishops in the house of lords.
spiritual values
found when considering life at more than face value. understanding faith, feelings and values.
spiritual values are human values
- human values are made religious in different contexts but are all relativley similar
- human values came first, 10 commandments a collection of commonly held ideas
- 2002 Amsterdam would be agreed upon my religious people
spiritual values are not just human values
- at their fullest they require a belief in a God to facilitate these values
-some values contradict. ie personal autonomy woulkd lead to things like euthanasia which christians against - spirituality is about finding a conection through God’s divine onebess
Matthew 7:12
“do to others what you would have them do to you”. Throughout all religions there appears to be a set of moral values, a ‘Golden Rule’
education
1/3 schools are faith schools, secularists reject the need for these. some dont want children to be characterised when young,
British values
some say schools need to educate on British values, these include autonomy and tolerance for other beliefs. some may say these are also christian values, we need to appreciate christian heritage.
government
some say national institutios should be seperate as to reflect nation. but things have changed, different faith leaders in the house of lords.
brexit
UK decision to leave the EU has nothing to do with religion and shows how political unrest isnt caused by religious disagreements.
england’s christian history
typical enlish countryside has a church, St James bible an important text, Dawkins considers himself a ‘cultural christian’
christianity should contribute to society’s culture
- UK would lose a part of its culture without Christian influence and may lead to change
- it doesnt mean no other faith should
- christian ethics apply to everyone and so its perspective can help balance out rapid advancements in science etc
christianity should’nt contribute to society’s culture
- society now understands christianity and religion are a thing of the past
- christianity can be a contributor to individuals but society must be neutral
- heritage of other countries is as important and better reflective of the UK
Freud commandments
“thou shalt not question”
says religion encourages irrational and illogical thinking
