They believe that existential security is the reason for the variations in religion between societies. Existential security is 'the feeling that survival is secure enough and can therefore be taken for granted'.
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Poor Societies
Life threatening risks, disease and illness, insecurity, high levels of religiosity.
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Rich Societies
High standards of living, more security, low levels of religiosity.
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Norris & Inglehart (2004)
They believe that the growth in global population challenges the trend towards secularisation.
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Europe vs. America
The trend towards secularisation is increasing, which doesn't surprise Norris & Inglehart, because they are the most equal and secure. America is still more religious but it's still unequal which creates a high level of poverty and insecurity.
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Gill & Lundegaarde (2004)
The more a country spends on welfare, the less people participate in religious activity. This shows that European countries are more secular than the USA as they spend more on welfare.
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Vasquez (2007)
Accepts Norris & Inglehart's explanation but he believes that it only uses quantitative data and that qualitative data is needed so they can examine people's own ideas and definitions of Existential Security.
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Criticisms
Norris & Inglehart only see religion as a negative response to deprivation. They ignore the positive reasons for people participating in religious activites.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Life threatening risks, disease and illness, insecurity, high levels of religiosity.
Back
Poor Societies
Card 3
Front
High standards of living, more security, low levels of religiosity.
Back
Card 4
Front
They believe that the growth in global population challenges the trend towards secularisation.
Back
Card 5
Front
The trend towards secularisation is increasing, which doesn't surprise Norris & Inglehart, because they are the most equal and secure. America is still more religious but it's still unequal which creates a high level of poverty and insecurity.
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