The significance of religion in the contemporary world

Question 1

What do the substantive and functional definition say about secularisation?

Answer 1

Substantive definition - suggests secularisation has occurred

Functional definition - suggests secularisation has not occurred

Question 2

What was the church attendance in 1850s compared to 2019?

Answer 2

1850 - 40%

2019 - less than 1%

Question 3

What are issues with validity and reliability and secularisation?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is religious participation in the US?

Answer 4

US = 40% attending church regularly

Question 5

What does Brierly say about religious participation outside of the UK?

Answer 5

Increased in Africa, Latin America, and Asia

Decline in Europe

Big increase in proportion of world who are Islamic

Question 6

What did census data show about the change in Sunday service attendance?

Answer 6

1850 = 40% of the population

2005 = 7% of adult population in church

Question 7

How many people identified as Christian in the 2011 census data?

Answer 7

33.2 million

60% OF POPULATION

Question 8

What is BRUCE idea of scientific rationalism?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

How did the Protestant reformation led by Martin Luther cause secularisation according to WEBER?

Answer 9

Led to rational thinking replacing supernatural beliefs

God simply created world and doesn’t intervene in it

People viewed world scientifically

Question 10

According to WILSON and BRUCE, how did the industrial revolution lead to secularisation?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What did HEELAS and WOODHEAD say about secularisation?

Answer 11

Traditional religion is declining and being replaced by New Age spirituality such as crystal healing and self-help books

Question 12

What does MARX think is the cause of secularisation?

Answer 12

Communist society in which there were no classes

Everyone is equal and there is no need for heirarchy

Question 13

What did WEBER say was the cause of secularization?

Answer 13

Rationalization of the modern world

Individuals would gain knowledge from science

Causes disenchantment as modern world is no longer charged with mystery and magic

Question 14

What example does LYON give to show that religion has moved in the ‘sphere of consumption’?

Answer 14

Harvest festival in Disney Land

Mixing religion with consumerism

Question 15

What does HERVIEU-LEGER say about postmodernism and religion?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What does HEELAS say about postmodernism and religion?

AO3

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

What does El Saawadi say about globalisation and religion?

Answer 17

Global growth of patriarchal religious movement has held back progress

E.g. eliminating FGN and reinforced women’s subordination

Question 18

Who are oneshul and how are they linked to globalisation and religion?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Who said secularisation is a long term decline in the power, popularity and prestige of religious beliefs and rituals?

Answer 19

Bruce

Question 20

What did PARSONS say about secularisation?

Answer 20

Church has lost many of its former functions through structural differentiation

Less responsibility for education and welfare than it did in the past

Question 21

What does social action theorist BERGER say about secularisation?

Answer 21

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