Secularisation

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What was found in the 1851 Census?
40% of the adult population attended church on Sundays and the 19th century was a 'golden age' of religiosity
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What does Wilson argue about religion in Western societies?
Western societies have been undergoing a long-term process of secularisation where religious beliefs, institutions and practices lose their significance
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What is church attendance like today?
6% of the population attended church in 2005. Adults with no religion has risen from a 1/3 to a 1/2 since 1983
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Define religious affiliation
A person's membership or identification with a religion
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What does Bruce argue about religious institutions today?
Religion is relegated to the private sphere of the individual and family. The state has taken over many functions
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What is the rationalisation explanation of secularisation outlined by Weber?
The Protestant Reformation undermined the Catholic worldview that God changed the course of events through supernatural powers. Events were explained as predictable workings of natural forces which enabled science to develop, called disenchantment.
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According to Bruce, what has replaced religious explanations of why things happen?
A technological worldview i.e. science
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Outline one criticism of the rationalisation explanation?
Religious explanations survive in areas where technological and scientific explanations are less effective
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What is the structural differentiation explanation of secularisation outlined by Parsons?
Religion dominated pre-Industrial society but has since become a smaller, more specialised institution. Religious beliefs are a matter of personal choice and the church and state are separate in modern society
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What is the social and cultural diversity explanation of secularisation?
Industrialisation creates impersonal, loose-knit urban centres with diverse beliefs. Diversity undermines the believing in religion. The rise in individualism leads to a decline in community-based beliefs and practise.
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How does Aldridge criticise the social and cultural diversity explanation?
Religion can be a source of identity and the growth of the internet allows for 'imagined' communities.
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What is the religious diversity explanation of secularisation outlined by Berger?
The Catholic Church held a monopoly of truth but diversity has undermined religions plausibility structure.
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What is the cultural defence and transition explanation outlined by Bruce?
Cultural Defence: Religion provides a focus for the defence of national/ethnic group identity in a struggle against an external forces. Cultural Transition: Religion provides a sense of community for those living in different cultures
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How is cultural defence and transition criticised?
Bruce argue religion survives because it is a focus for group identity. These examples show religion is likely to survive where it performs functions other than relating to the supernatural and does therefore not disprove secularisation
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What is secularisation like in America?
In 1962, 42% of Americans attended Church on Sundays but this was more of an expression of the 'American way of life'. Religion has therefore become superficial
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Why may the figure of American Church Attendance been exaggerated?
Hadaway found in Ohio the attendance level claimed in polls was 83%, higher than the researchers counted of actual Church goes
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What is secularisation from within?
Bruce argues in America, religion's purpose has changed from seeking salvation in Heaven to seeking personal improvement in this world. Religion has become psychologised - a form of therapy.
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What did Lynd and Lynd find?
94% of Church goes agreed with the statement 'Christianity is the one true religion' among young people in 1924. In 1977, 4% agreed
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What did Lynd and Lynd's research show about religion?
Absolutism has been eroded and Bruce inentifies 'practical relativism' among young Christians - acceptance that others are entitled to different beliefs
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How do Roof and McKinney criticise Lynd and Lynd and Bruce's findings?
Bruce has ignored the growth of Conservative Protestant Religions. The New Christian Right was influential in G.W Bush's government and aim to get more political power and establish a society based on a literal interpretation of the bible
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What does Wilson argue about religion in Western societies?

Back

Western societies have been undergoing a long-term process of secularisation where religious beliefs, institutions and practices lose their significance

Card 3

Front

What is church attendance like today?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Define religious affiliation

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does Bruce argue about religious institutions today?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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