Why has secularisation happened?

Question 1

Why has secularisation happened?

Answer 1

Rationalisation
Structural differentiation
Social and cultural diversity,
Religious diversity

Question 2

Ao1 rationalisation

Answer 2

This is the process where logical evidence based ways of thinking, replace religious ones
Many argue that western society has undergone a process of rationalisation in the last few centuries
An example of this is a church of England, breaking away from the authority of Catholicism

Weber Says the magical element of religion disappeared, for example, people, no longer believe in magical figures like angels, and this is disenchantment

Bruce states that scientific technology had replaced the religious explanations of why things happen, and this is the technological worldview

Question 3

Ao3
Rationalisation

Answer 3

However, religious explanations surviving areas were scientific ones are less effective. For example, we may pray if we are suffering from an illness which medicine has no cure.

Question 4

Ao1 structural differentiation

Answer 4

Parsons defines structural differentiation as a process or specialisation, which occurs in the development of the industrial society
Parsons sees this as having happened to religion dominated industrial society, but with industrialisation has become smaller and more specialised institution

Structural differentiation lead to the disengagement of religion from running of society
For example, the church has lost the influence once on education, social welfare, and the law
Even where religion continues to perform functions, such as education or social welfare, they must conform to the requirements of the secular state
For example, teachers in schools must hold qualifications which are recognised by the state
Bruce-more privatised confined to the private sphere of the home and family

Question 5

Ao3 structural differentiation

Answer 5

Although the churches become less powerful, there are still 26 Church of England Bishops in the House of Lords inferencing the government policy decisions
Radical feminism - although religion has become privatised, it has not lost influence on women within the the home as it is still oppressive against them e.g gender roles, abortion views etc

Question 6

Ao1 social and cultural diversity

Answer 6

Diversity of occupations, cultures and lifestyles, undermines religion
Wilton argues that in pre-industrial society local community shared religious rituals that expressed their shared values, but industrialisation destroyed these communities along with religion

Diversity undermines the believability of religion

Question 7

Ao3 social and cultural diversity

Answer 7

Aldridge argues that communities is not always about people in one area
Pentecostalism flourishes in urban areas which undermining the view that urbanisation undermines religion and leads to secularisation.

Question 8

Ao1 religious diversity

Answer 8

Bruce argues that the plausibility of belief is undermined by alternatives
In the middle ages, the Catholic Church held the monopoly and had no competition
As a result, everyone lived under single sacred canopy, or a set of belief shared by all
This gave these belief great plausibility because they had no challenges, and the churches of the truth was unquestioned.
This change with the protestant reformation, and the number and very religious organisation continue to grow with different versions of the truth. No Church can claim the unchallenged monopoly of truth.

Question 9

Ao3 religious diversity

Answer 9

Stark and Bainbridge argue that religious diversity improved the supply of religion. This leads to a greater participation in that more people have choice to select a religion which best suits them.