Secularisation
- Created by: chocolateflavouredmilk
- Created on: 27-02-20 01:29
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- Secularisation
- Secularisation in Britain
- Crockett estimates that in the 1981 Census of Religion, 40% or more of the adult population attended church on Sundays.
- This fell to about 10-15% by the 1960s.
- CHURCH ATTENDANCE TODAY
- Wilson found that by 2015, about 5% of the adult population attended church on Sundays
- Sunday school attendance has declines further and only a tiny proportion of children now attend.
- Some small organisations have increased in population, however this does not make up for the decline in the larger ones.
- RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION TODAY
- A person's religious affiliation refers to their membership of or identification with a religion.
- Evidence indicated a continuing decline in the number of people who are affiliated with religion.
- Between 1983 and 2014, the percentage of adults with no religion rose.
- The number of Catholics increased slightly due to East European immigration.
- A person's religious affiliation refers to their membership of or identification with a religion.
- RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS TODAY
- The state has taken over many of the functions that the church used to perform
- The churches used to provide an education, but this is now provided by the state.
- Institutional weakness has been measured by the decline in clergy which fell from 45,000 to 34,000 during the 20th century.
- The state has taken over many of the functions that the church used to perform
- Crockett estimates that in the 1981 Census of Religion, 40% or more of the adult population attended church on Sundays.
- Explanations of Secularisation
- A common theme is modernisation, the replacement of religion with rational and scientific ways of thinking.
- In addition, the growth of social and religious diversity.
- MAX WEBER: RATIONALISATION
- DISENCHANTMENT
- Weber believes the Protestant Reformation begins the ;disenchantment' of the world - it squeezes out magical and religious ways of thinking and starts off the rationalisation process.
- This enables science to thrive and provide the basis for technological advances that give humans more and more power to control nature, further undermining the religious view.
- Weber believes the Protestant Reformation begins the ;disenchantment' of the world - it squeezes out magical and religious ways of thinking and starts off the rationalisation process.
- A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLDVIEW
- Bruce argues that the growth of the technological worldview has replaces religious or supernatural explanations of why things happen.
- A technological worldview leaves little room for religious explanations in everyday life
- Bruce concludes that although scientific explanations do not challenge religion directly, they have greatly reduced the scope for religious explanations.
- STRUCTURAL DIFFERENTIATION
- Parsons defines it as a process of specialisation that occurs with the development of industrial society.
- He believes that with industrialisation, religion has declined.
- Disengagement, individuals rely on the church less and less, we rely on the state alot more now for education and the church becomes disconnected from society.
- Religion is now more about personal choice and religion has lost much of their influence on wider society,
- Parsons defines it as a process of specialisation that occurs with the development of industrial society.
- SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
- Wilson argues that in pre-industrial communities, shared values were expressed through collective religious rituals that integrated individuals and regulated their behaviour
- Religion has now lost its vitality and hold over individuals.
- Bruce sees industrialisation is undermining the consensus of religious beliefs, social and geographical mobility brings new people and more diversity.
- Wilson argues that in pre-industrial communities, shared values were expressed through collective religious rituals that integrated individuals and regulated their behaviour
- RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY
- Berger argues religious diversity has caused secularisation in which there is more than one religious organisation.
- Society is no longer unified under the single sacred canopy provided by the church.
- Berger argues that this created a crsis of credibility for religion, diversity undermines religions 'plausability structure'.
- This makes people question their faith and religion becomes relative rather than absolute.
- CULTURAL DEFENCE AND TRANSITION
- Bruce identifies two counter-trends that seem to go against the secularisation theory
- Cultural defence is where religion provides a focal point for the defence of national, ethnic, local or group identity struggle against an external force.
- Cultural transition is where religion provides support and a sense of community for ethnic groups such as migrants.
- Bruce argues that religion survives in such situations only because it is a focus for group identity.
- He argues that religion is more likely to survive where it performs functions other than relating to individuals to the supernatural.
- Bruce identifies two counter-trends that seem to go against the secularisation theory
- A common theme is modernisation, the replacement of religion with rational and scientific ways of thinking.
- Secularisation in America
- In 1992, Wilson found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sundays, however, he argued that this was the 'American way of life'
- DECLINING CHURCH ATTENDANCE
- Hadaway studied church attendance in Ohio, he found that the level of attendance claimed by the interviewees was 83% higher than the researchers estimates of church attendance in the country.
- Bruce concludes that a stable rate of self-reported attendance of about 40% has masked a decline in actual attendance in the Unites States.
- SECULARISATION FROM WITHIN
- The emphasis on traditional Christian beliefs has declined in America and religion has become 'psychologised'.
- The purpose of religion has changed from seeking salvation in heaven to seeking personal improvement in this world.
- RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY
- Bruce identified a trend towards practical relativism.
- This involves acceptance of the view that others are entitled to hold beliefs that are different to one's own.
- The counterpart to practical relativism is the erosion of absolutism
- People hold views that are different to our own, which undermines our assumption that our own views are absolutely true.
- Bruce identified a trend towards practical relativism.
- CRITICISMS OF SECULARISATION THEORY
- Religion is not delining it is simply changing
- Secularisation theory is one-sided and ignores the growth of religious revivals and the growth of new religions.
- Secularisation is not universal, and doesn't apply to everywhere.
- Religious diversity increases participation because it offers choice.
- Secularisation in Britain
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