The significance of religion in the contemporary world Flashcards
What do the substantive and functional definition say about secularisation?
Substantive definition - suggests secularisation has occurred
Functional definition - suggests secularisation has not occurred
What was the church attendance in 1850s compared to 2019?
1850 - 40%
2019 - less than 1%
What are issues with validity and reliability and secularisation?
19th century collection not meeting contemporary standards of reliability
Different criteria used to record membership in different religions
Only one day a year- could be different
Not everyone answers census
What is religious participation in the US?
US = 40% attending church regularly
What does Brierly say about religious participation outside of the UK?
Increased in Africa, Latin America, and Asia
Decline in Europe
Big increase in proportion of world who are Islamic
What did census data show about the change in Sunday service attendance?
1850 = 40% of the population
2005 = 7% of adult population in church
How many people identified as Christian in the 2011 census data?
33.2 million
60% OF POPULATION
What is BRUCE idea of scientific rationalism?
People became less reliant upon religions explanations for problems as they began to mater in the natural world
People have become more open to alternative views and interpretations
How did the Protestant reformation led by Martin Luther cause secularisation according to WEBER?
Led to rational thinking replacing supernatural beliefs
God simply created world and doesn’t intervene in it
People viewed world scientifically
According to WILSON and BRUCE, how did the industrial revolution lead to secularisation?
Caused break-up of small, close-knit communities
New people with various backgrounds and religious beliefs integrate
Lack of dominating religion made it difficult for people to remain religious
What did HEELAS and WOODHEAD say about secularisation?
Traditional religion is declining and being replaced by New Age spirituality such as crystal healing and self-help books
What does MARX think is the cause of secularisation?
Communist society in which there were no classes
Everyone is equal and there is no need for heirarchy
What did WEBER say was the cause of secularization?
Rationalization of the modern world
Individuals would gain knowledge from science
Causes disenchantment as modern world is no longer charged with mystery and magic
What example does LYON give to show that religion has moved in the ‘sphere of consumption’?
Harvest festival in Disney Land
Mixing religion with consumerism
What does HERVIEU-LEGER say about postmodernism and religion?
Traditional religion has declined and instead people have moved towards ‘spiritual shopping’
People are free to make their own spiritual journey and choose elements from a range of religions that appeal to them
What does HEELAS say about postmodernism and religion?
AO3
This is not postmodernism but modernism
Spiritual shopping is a form of individualism which is a key feature of modernism
(When changing nature of religion occurred)
What does El Saawadi say about globalisation and religion?
Global growth of patriarchal religious movement has held back progress
E.g. eliminating FGN and reinforced women’s subordination
Who are oneshul and how are they linked to globalisation and religion?
A virtual synagogue that members of the Jewish faith can email to join
Can stream prayer services, shabbat services, holiday events and classes
Online chatroom so members can engage in spirituality and form friendships
Allows wider communities to access religion
Attendance at religious buildings may be down - inaccuracy
Who said secularisation is a long term decline in the power, popularity and prestige of religious beliefs and rituals?
Bruce
What did PARSONS say about secularisation?
Church has lost many of its former functions through structural differentiation
Less responsibility for education and welfare than it did in the past
What does social action theorist BERGER say about secularisation?
Caused by religious diversity: other alternatives cause more questions to be asked
Sacred canopy analogy - helped people to deal with suffering
Then protestant reformation –> religious pluralism
Society no longer unified under single sacred canopy
