6.3 - Secularisation
- Created by: Strelly22
- Created on: 06-03-20 19:45
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- 6.3 - Secularisation
- The place of religion in a secular society
- The British Social Attitudes Survey [May 2015]
- CofE = 40% in 1983 to 17% in 2014
- Religions other than Christianity have grown, in particular, the proportion who are Muslim
- Fastest growing group = those who say they have no religion [49%]
- However, majority believe 'The Church of England should keep its status as the official established Church in England'
- The British Social Attitudes Survey [May 2015]
- The causes and effects of secularisation
- 3 processes that occur in the modernisation of society that have a direct influence on the decline of religion:
- Rationalisation
- Society becomes committed to following practical and provable principles and procedures [science, politics, economics]
- Differentiation [social fragmentation]
- Society develops increasingly specialised institutions [economy, education, health] and religion is no longer directly relevant
- Decline of community [societalisation]
- Modern life is increasingly organised and regulated on a level governed by state departments
- Rationalisation
- Religions decreasing power:
- Fewer attend church services
- Fewer willing to work in the Church
- Churches are closed off or sold
- Fewer getting married
- Fewer baptised
- Even fewer confirmed
- Great Christian festivals lost religious significance
- Evidence that religion is still important in society, but the nature of its importance is changing:
- Most people still hold religious beliefs
- Religion is very important in many social groups [Muslims]
- New religious movements have experienced considerable popularity
- Religion is still strong in other parts of the world
- 3 processes that occur in the modernisation of society that have a direct influence on the decline of religion:
- The rise of humanism
- A way of seeing and reacting to the world using science, logic and reason, and rejecting religious beliefs and ideas
- Before 18th century, C church dominated European thinking
- After, thinkers questioned authority of the Church
- Human goodness and ethics came from human reason rather than from some external power
- Focused on human beings rather than on organised religion
- 3 Central Principles:
- 1. Scientific view
- 2. Concern for the welfare of other human beings and animals based on reason
- 3. The need for each person to create meaning in their own life, without a belief in life after death
- 1967 = British Humanist Association formed. Campaigns to:
- Disestablish the Church of England
- Remove bishops in the House of Lords
- Abolish faith schools
- Potential clashes between religious and secular values in education
- Religious is compulsory in all state schools
- Some faith schools:
- The faith organisation decide how it should be taught
- Aims = confessional, reinforce the faith, promote a Christian world view
- National Secular Society:
- Not against religion / teaching about religion
- Against state promoting religion
- Opposes confessional teaching
- Non religious and humanist world views should be taught as well
- No religion / world view should have greater importance
- British Humanist Association:
- Opposes religious worship in state schools
- Religious worship ignores the right of children to freedom of belief and conscience [gives only parents rights]
- Secularisation = the idea that religious beliefs, practices and organisations are becoming less important in society. The influence of religion weakens
- Observable evidence:
- Religious teachings and organisations are no longer respected
- Rely on material comforts for our happiness, not supernatural beliefs
- Become a private matter and has less influence on public life
- Increasingly less committed to religious values and practices [prayer and worship]
- Become a 'leisure pursuit' rather than a deep commitment
- Observable evidence:
- The place of religion in a secular society
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