Past paper question: Using information from item A and elsewhere, assess the view that the increasing popularity of NRMs and NAMs challenges the claim that contemporary society has become more secular (18 marks)

Wilson (1966) defined secularisation 'the process whereby religious thinking, practice and institutions lose social significance. However their is an issue with defining secularisation! The way religion is defined is crucial to deciding whether it has declined. If the substantive definition of religion (excludes beliefs abd activities that do not make reference to a supernatural being) would require a decline in the belief in the supernatural. Using a functional definition would require a decline of the role of religion in society, however these religions would not have to believe in a supernatural being so long as they are fulfilling the functions of a religion in society for example New Religious Movements (NRMs) and New Age Movements (NAMs). It has been estimated to be over 800 NRMs and over half a million individuals belonging to these and other…