the challenge of secularism (11)

Question 1

england as christian country

Answer 1

christianity is embedded into institutions- like schools must broadly have christian worship and the monarch is the head of the Church of England

Question 2

state/religion

Answer 2

very religious countries (like USA and France) have religion and state matters seperate

Question 3

secularism vs secularisation

Answer 3

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

Question 4

UK non religious stats

Answer 4

2015- 6th least religious country in the world
70% 16-29 year olds have no religion

Question 5

why should the UK be secular

Answer 5

• need for neutrality and shouldnt be one better system
• freedom of choice and avoidance of conflicts
• secularism works in other countries

Question 6

secularism helps christianity develop

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

secularism doesnt help christianity develop

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

Freud and science

Answer 8

Freud said society needed to develop rationality and must abolish religion and turn to science

Question 9

pyschosexually

Answer 9

Freud thinks we develop this when young. basic drives push us to focus on the oral, then anal, then phallic.

Question 10

neuroses

Answer 10

Freud said these can be explained by people regressing into physcosexuality. when people regress they are more guilty for their oedipus complex.

Question 11

Oedipus complex

Answer 11

Freud theory that children have an unconsious sexual desire for their opposite sex parent and hatred for the same sex.

Question 12

fathers/sons

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Freud and illusion

Answer 13

said religion was an illusion that came from the desire to gain forgiveness. Freud therefore calls religion- ‘universal obsessional neurosis’

Question 14

religion in historical societies

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Freud quote

Answer 15

“Immorality, no less than morality, has at all time found support in religion” immoral actions have been justified by religion

Question 16

Wish fufilment

Answer 16

Freud said religion unconsious need for wish fufilment and move away from repressed guilt

Question 17

Oceanic feeling

Answer 17

feeling of oneness brought about by religion. Freud thought this was desire to go back and close unity between child and mother.

Question 18

God is an illusion and wish fufilment

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

God isnt an illusion or wish fufilment

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

Dawkins view on religion

Answer 20

said it has a disproportionate place in society and is frustratingly immune from criticism. God has too often been an excuse for bad behaviour.

Question 21

The God Delusion

Answer 21

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

Question 22

The God Delusion extreme

Answer 22

4. religion causes war and many 21st century conflicts could be avoided wihout religion
5. 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

Question 23

christianity is a major cause of problems

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

christianity is not a major cause of problems

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

humanism

Answer 25

living a good, happy life without any reference to God/religion. It is more scientific.

Question 26

2002 Amsterdam decleration

Answer 26

set out humanist values. centrality of reason, freedom of individual but need for social responsibility, fufilment

Question 27

humanists and secularism

Answer 27

society is pluralistic so institutions, gov and schools, should be neutral to reflect this and reject things like bishops in the house of lords.

Question 28

spiritual values

Answer 28

found when considering life at more than face value. understanding faith, feelings and values.

Question 29

spiritual values are human values

Answer 29

• 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

Question 30

spiritual values are not just human values

Answer 30

• 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

Question 31

Matthew 7:12

Answer 31

“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’

Question 32

education

Answer 32

1/3 schools are faith schools, secularists reject the need for these. some dont want children to be characterised when young,

Question 33

British values

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

government

Answer 34

some say national institutios should be seperate as to reflect nation. but things have changed, different faith leaders in the house of lords.

Question 35

brexit

Answer 35

UK decision to leave the EU has nothing to do with religion and shows how political unrest isnt caused by religious disagreements.

Question 36

england’s christian history

Answer 36

typical enlish countryside has a church, St James bible an important text, Dawkins considers himself a ‘cultural christian’

Question 37

christianity should contribute to society’s culture

Answer 37

• 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

Question 38

christianity should’nt contribute to society’s culture

Answer 38

• 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

Question 39

Freud commandments

Answer 39

“thou shalt not question”
says religion encourages irrational and illogical thinking