Secularisation

3 explanations of secularisation 

Rationalisation - a decline of tradition and its replacement with rational and scientific ways of thinking -which undermine religion.

Social change such as industrialisation which led to the break up of small communities that were held together by a shared religious belief

Growth in social and religious diversity - A growth in diversity has undermined both the authority of religious institutions and the credibility of religious beliefs. As a result practices such as churches has declined.

What was Crockets percentage of people attending church in 1951 and what has Wilson argued has changed since?

He estimated that within that year 40% or more of the British adult population attended church on Sundays.

Wilson argued since the 60s the following has changed:

• A decline in the number of people going to church or being religious

• Increase in the average age of church goers

• Fewer baptisms and church weddings

• Greater diversity including non Christian religions

• Decline in Christians

Woodhead on clergy’s

She argued that clergy (religious leaders) has decreased during the 20th century from, 45,000-34,000. Additionally, they are an aging force with only 12% of the Anglican clergy under 40.

A lack of clergy means the day to day religious influence has decreased.

Weber

Weber looked at the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism.

For Weber, Catholic worldview saw the world as an ‘enchanted garden’. God and other spiritual beings and forces such as angels and the devils were believed to be present and active in this world, Humans would influence these forces through prayer etc.

Protestantism saw God as transcendent - existing above and beyond, or outside this world. God did not intervene and let the world show for itself, leaving the world to be unpredictable. 

Weber argues the Protestant belief led to the ‘disenchantment’ of the world and the increase of rationalisation. 

Bruce

Bruce argued the growth in technology has largely replaced religious or supernatural explanations of why things happen. Science is taking over from religion as the predominant belief system in society For example, if there is an airplane accident, people’s first thought is now to assume that something technical went wrong with the plane, rather than look to supernatural explanations.

Religion is becoming more privatised - confined to the private sphere of the home and family.

Parsons structural differentiation

Parsons defines structural differentiation as a process of specialisation that occurs with the development of industrial society

(Parsons is saying that as societies grow and become more advanced (like when we moved to using machines and factories), different parts of society start doing special jobs instead of trying to do everything at once.

Parsons sees this happening with religion. People do not see religion as the answer to everything but refer back to it from smaller aspects of life.

Berger’s cause of secularisation + criticisms

Berger argues that during the middle ages, the catholic church was societies sacred canopy (a sacred canopy means one shared set of beliefs that covers and protects everyone in society). However, there is no longer a shared sacred canopy. Because of the existence of a wide range of ideas and belief systems and rationalisation, people are no longer united by a shared set of beliefs, as they were in previous eras. - undermines plausibility.

Agree:

Lynd and Lynd found that while in the 1920s 94% of churchgoing young Christians in the US thought that Christianity was “the one true religion” this had declined to 41% by the late 1970s.

Criticism

However, he criticises himself arguing that diversity and choice actually stimulate interest and participation in religion, for example the growth of evangelicalism and the New Christian Right in the USA.

Beckford agrees with both points arguing yes religious diversity can lead to people questioning religion but it can also lead to a stronger connection towards religion for some. 

What are two counter-trends that Bruce identifies goes against secularisation theory? + criticism

Cultural defence - When religion provides defence of national, ethnic, local or group identity against external forces such as hostile foreign power. For example,

• Poland, people used Catholicism to stay strong when the communists were in charge.

• In Iran, people turned to Islam to stand together before their revolution in 1979.

Cultural transition - Where religion provides support and a sense of community for ethnic groups such as migrants to a different country or culture.

However, Bruce also criticises his ideas arguing these do not disprove secularisation but rather religion only survives in these situations as it is a focus for group identity.

Wilson on the reason of secularisation in America + who agreed with him?

He found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sundays however, argued that churchgoing in America was more of an ‘American way of life’. He claimed America was a secular society not because of abandonment of churches but because religion has became superficial.

• Bruce 2002 also agreed with Wilson. He said that the evidence for this was in;

  • Declining church attendance

  • Secularisation from within

  • Religious diversity and realism.

What is Bogus baptism?

Whilst infant baptism has decreased, older baptism has increased as most Christian schools tend to be the most high performing. However, only Baptist students are allowed in. Many individuals use baptism not for religious gain, but rather an entry ticket to a well preforming school.

This is otherwise known as Bogus baptisms.