Beliefs - Changing religion

What are the problems with the secularisation debate?

based on western Europe, difficult to measure, ignores that religion can adapt, assumes linear progression when it normally acts in cycles

What is ‘believing without belonging’ according to Davie?

religion is more privatised as people are more reluctant to join organisation but people still hold religious beliefs

What is spiritual NHS according to Davie?

major national churches are public services like the NHS which people can use when they need it such as rites of passages or tragedies

What is vicarious religion?

small number of committed people practice on behalf of the majority who experience religion second half and therefore still identify with religion

What is the evaluation of Davie?

Voas + Crockett - religious attendance and belief in God are declining not just attendance as Davie suggested, Bruce - if people are not willing to go to church then their beliefs can’t be as strong

What is cultural amnesia according to Leger?

children aren’t taught religion from birth

What is spiritual shopping according to Leger?

people are now consumers of religion who have the ability to find beliefs which fit with their lives

What are pilgrims according to Leger?

follow individual path of self development and join groups based on self development

What are converts according to Leger?

groups offers sense of belonging based on shared backgrounds or religious background and creates sense of communities

What is Lyon’s perspectives on religion?

postmodernism

What is disembedded?

religious beliefs have been removed from physical church by the media

What is electronic church?

religion relocated to the internet so people can experience faith without going to physical church

What is de-institutionalised?

religion is now is cyber-space free to be adapted by anyone for their own purposes

What is religion online?

traditional religion moved online with the same hierarchy and one way dialogue

What is online religion?

‘cyber-religion’ with no existence outside of the internet where people can create relationships and community

What is the sphere of consumption?

people have become religious consumers making choices about which elements they find useful

What is pick and mix religion?

can pick and mix elements of different religion to suit their taste

What are meta narrative of religion?

religions which claim to have the absolute truth

Why do religions with meta narratives have become less popular?

so many religions all with contradictory views

What was the methodology of the Kendal project?

used interviews, observations and questionnaires to study changing religiosity in the town of Kendal

What were the findings of the Kendal project?

traditional religion with imposed morality is declining but NAM with emphasis the inner self were becoming more popular however a spiritual revolution had not yet taken place

What is Stark and Bainbridge’s religious market theory?

religion is declining in areas with a religious monopoly because of the lack of choice, however in areas with choice and a ‘religious market’ churches have to compete to attract people leading to people being able to ‘shop’ for something which meets their needs

What is the criticism of the religious market theory?

assumes all people want religion, religion is still declining in places with lots of choice

What is Norris and Ingelhart’s existential security theory?

religion thrives in places where their is insecurity as religion offers comfort, meaning and reassurance

What is the criticism of the existential security theory?

some affluent groups are still religious and new forms of spirituality are growing in secure societies