Topic 3- Secularisation

Question 1

What are the three subtopics of secularisation?

Answer 1

Secularisation in Britain, explanations of secularisation and secularisation in America.

Question 2

Secularisation in Britain

What does Crockett say religion was like in the past?

Answer 2

Based on evidence from the 1851 Census of Religious Worship, it is estimated that in that year, 40% or more of the adult population in Britain attended church on Sundays, which is much higher than today.

Question 3

Secularisation in Britain

What major changes have happen in religion in the UK since the 1851 census?

Answer 3

A decline in the proportion of the population going to church or belonging to one, an increase in the average age of churchgoers, fewer baptisms and church weddings, a decline in the numbers holding traditional Christian beliefs, and greater diversity including more non Christian religions.

Question 4

What does Wilson argue about secularisation?

Answer 4

Western societies have been undergoing a long-term process of secularisation, which he defined as the process whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose social significance eg church attendance fallen from 40% to 10-15% from mid 19th century to the 1960s. Also church weddings, baptisms and Sunday school attendance has declined