The Challenges of Secularism

Question 1

secularism definition?

Answer 1

belief that religion should not be part if the affairs of the state or public education

Question 2

secularisation definition?

Answer 2

an institution, gov or society that has no connection to religion is secular, and the process of moving towards religion being secular is secularisation.

Question 3

quote for secularisation?

Answer 3

“the process whereby religious thinking, practises and institutions loose social significance”

Question 4

3 figures that show christianity may be declining?

Answer 4

church attendance has halved since 1967
congregations in church are ageing
fewer marriages held in churches

Question 5

what did Modood investigate?

Answer 5

there where big differences in the importance attached to religion, only 11% of white C of E saw religion is very important, 74% of muslims

Question 6

Jose Casanova in ‘rethinking secularisation’ identifies three ways in which people talk about secularisation what were they?

Answer 6

• yes- more people claim to be more religious
• no- religious bank holidays
• no- queen head of state- C of E

Question 7

what does Steve Bruce say on Christianity ?

Answer 7

a pale shadow of its former self

Question 8

what is the secularisation theory?

Answer 8

the belief that religious belief would progressively decline as democracy and technology advance

Question 9

what has peter Berger said on his input to the secularization theory?

Answer 9

retracted his conclusion saying “ secularization on the societal level is not necessarily linked to secularization on the level of individual consciousness”

Question 10

what does David ford say on the secularisation theory ?

Answer 10

says that secular atheism is unquestionably good. they state that atheist ideologies such as capitalism, have sought to write out religion from civilisation

Question 11

what did Freud and Dawkins both argue about the idea of god?

Answer 11

god is an illusion and the result of wish fulfilment, Christianity is infantile, repressive and causes conflict

Question 12

in freuds book “totem and taboo” what is his historical explanation of religion?

Answer 12

there is a father who’s sons envy his access to the tribes women, and so overwhelm and kill him. even after their rebellion, the sons cannot fulfilled their desires to emulate their father, due to competition between them. religion arose out of frustration and guilt they felt. and after they had killed their father, they Would be overcome with a sense of guilt

Question 13

what was totem?

Answer 13

phallic symbol of maleness where one went to seek forgiveness. in modern times has become the male god of religion that we seek comfort from through religion

Question 14

what was taboo?

Answer 14

the desiring of their mothers and wishing to kill their fathers entered the consciousness

Question 15

what is the the name freud gives to summaries his view on the origins of religion?

Answer 15

Oedipus complex

Question 16

what is freuds famous quote on religion?

Answer 16

“universal obsessional neurosis”

Question 17

is freuds overall view of religion positive or negative?

Answer 17

negative

Question 18

for freud what was religion?

Answer 18

the projection of the Childs physical relationship with their father

Question 19

for freud what was the origin of religion?

Answer 19

psychological connection between the Oedipus complex and totemism

Question 20

for freud where does religion stem from?

Answer 20

the primitive hold mentality, the tribe leader would have many wives and children, males would leave the tribe to mate with women who would only mate with the horde leader

Question 21

what did the primitive hold mentality lead to?

Answer 21

young men to have a murderous mentality against the father in order to gain possession of the women, yet once they had killed their father, they would over come guilt.

Question 22

what is Freud’s psychoanalytic view on religion?

Answer 22

religion of the unconscious mind’s wish for fulfilment.

Question 23

Freud’s psychoanalytic view on religion quote?

Answer 23

‘illusion’ form of neurosis, and even an attempt to gain control over the external world

Question 24

for freud what will happen to religion in the future?

Answer 24

reason and science will prevail, religion will end and only then will humans be able to live truly content lives.

Question 25

what is freud’s conclusion?

Answer 25

Although religion may do some good, for religion to grow up and develop rationally religion should be abolished than people can live happily.

Question 26

freuds quote on science?

Answer 26

“our science is not an illusion”

Question 27

give 3 critiques of freud ?

Answer 27

• he is a reductionist, wanting to explain everything in material and mechanical terms.
• religion is enabling- religion can give a spiritually deeper and richer meaning of life
• guilt- some religions cause guilt (catholic guilt) but many religions are not dogmatic

Question 28

give three strengths of freud?

Answer 28

• religion does have an Appeal to lonely and vulnerable
• a non supernatural explanation of religious feelings and experiences could be viewed as more plausible
• there is evidence to suggest that freud’s idea that people depict god as kind of super human

Question 29

who was Dawkins ?

Answer 29

an evolutionary biologist known for his rejection of a need for a creator god

Question 30

what was the atheist bus campaign?

Answer 30

’ peaceful and upbeat’ messages about atheism on transport media in Britain in response to evangelic christian advertising

Question 31

what was the bus campaigns aim?

Answer 31

raise £5,000 to run 30 busses across London saying “Theres probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life:”

Question 32

key quote from Dawkins from “The God Delusion”

Answer 32

somebody else must be responsible for my well being, and somebody else must be to blame if I am hurt. is it a similar infantilism that really lies behind the ‘need’ for a god

Question 33

what is Dawkins view on religion?

Answer 33

life should be meaningful without reference to religion, religion is repressive such as dress code

Question 34

what does Dawkins say on the indoctrination of children?

Answer 34

“children are hijacked by religious faith”= harm

children before the age of consent being considered religious is a form of child abuse