Eduqas Alevel RS Christianity 3D: Secularisation

The effectiveness of Christian response to the challenge of secularisation (30)

The extent to which the UK can be called a Christian country (30)

how is this a christian country

- you swear on the Bible during the oath at court

- songs of praise

- lots of Christian Schools - 30%

- Christian prayer commonly recited

- UK public holidays centred around religious festivals

- National anthem says "God save our king"

- monarch is the head of the church

- 26 bishops in the House of Lords

- royal wedding in west minister abbey

- many people opt for a religious ceremony when they die

- increased numbers of people attending pilgrimages

- christian presence still remains in hospitals, army and prisons

- 77% of British people believe that there are many thing srthat we cant explain through science

Why can the UK no longer be considered a Christian country

- people are less willing to identify with an organised religion

- people are less willing to observe the sabbath

- churches are being sold and used for other religious buildings such as mosques or temples

- atheism and humanism is now being taught more widely in schools as beliefs

- British social attitudes survey revealed that for every singe convert, the CofE loses 12 people, through death there are decreasing numbers

what is secularisation

process of society moving away from religion - separation between church + state

what is secularism

the belief that secularisation is a benefit to society

how has there been a change in attitudes

then...

67% of the population were baptised in 1950

72% of all marriages took place in a church in 1957

1930, UK Church membership stood at 10.6 million in 1930

Now...

2011, only 12% of the population were baptised

in 2000, only 36.3% of marriages took place in a church

church membership was approx 5.5million in 2010

who are the key scholars

Linda Woodhead, Elisabeth Erweck, James A Beckford

who is Lisa Woodhouse

Spiritual not religious, Securalosation is more prominent in 18-24 year olds, 34% of 60+ say no to religion, generational divide

who is Elisabeth Erweck

only half of no religion were atheists

who is James A Beckford

Case studies needed to. For example, women who went to high court over waring crucifix

what is a faith school

a school with a religious character that has formed links with a faith organisation. They are mostly run in the same way as other state schools. Their faith status may be reflected in their religious education curriculum , admissions criteria and staffing policies.

- they make up 30% of the UK schools

- they must follow the national curriculum can choose what they teach In RS

- they uphold a religious ethos, funding from religious organisations, preference on hiring, prioritise students of the particular faith

what are the objections to faith schools

- don't offer inclusivity

- hiring staff prices can be biased and unfair (equality act 2010, against human rights)

- teaching about one religion can be problematic

- can be seen to promote discrimination and homophobic behaviour as there are things taught that are not in line with modern views

- can only teach creatism rather than scientific theories

- may be best in the area and some may just get baptised to be accepted in the school

- get significantly more funding

what are the favours of faith schools

- may be the best performing school in the area

- parent may want children to have religious grounding

- can be seen to promote love, justice + hope environment

- another choice of education landscape such as grammar schools, they might offer things that others don't

what does Lisa Woodhead say about faith schools

academic performance was important for parents not the religious element

what case studies have been used to show the perceived challenges to christianity

banned advert in 2015 and illegal to wear a crucifix?

1. advert was created to be shown before the Star Wars film but it 'promoted political and religious messages' which promoted outrage from David Cameron, there is nothing in the law that presented christianity showing this. Instead it was only released on YouTube

2. christianity is fighting harder to stay in society. Nadia Eweida was suspended from BA for refusing to cover up her crucifix at work. Turbans and Hijabs are allowed to be worn but the crucifix not, she took the case to the human rights court and BA changed their policy

what do the case studies suggest about secularisation in the UK

Shows that people argue against religion more than they did showing the increase in peoples disagreement with religion although some still see it as important

is Christianity a relic from the past and nothing more - yes

- even though cathedral worship is growing, one can be fairly anonymous in this type of worship meaning people want to remain to non committal to the faith

- recent court cases suggest that christianity is loosing its influence as many didn't gain the right too assert their religious belief in public

- the church continues to provide a 'presence' that many make use of in crisis

- The arch bishop of Canterbury still gain media attention and people are keen to know their opinions

- provides support to people such as through teh Food Bank movement, street pastors and others. All of these gain huge support from both religious and non religious communities

is christianity a relic from the past and nothing more - no

- street pastors at play in over 300 towns and cities across the UK. Christian initiatives such as these present the religion in a positive and progressive way embracing modernity.

- the decline in religion as pers statistics just reflects a decline in church attended nit a decline in attitudes towards religion. there has undoubtably been a decline in religion as a duty but maybe not a decline in religion as a choice

- some people are disillusioned with modern science and so enjoy and appreciate religion more than ever

- traditional church strictures and rituals continue, royal weddings take place in churches and gain attention

what does Elisabeth Arweck and James A Becford identify as the six factors that secularists need to consider before they reach the conclusion that secularisation is happening

1. religion vitality - religion continues to be popular in many forms of worship, cathedral attendee seems to be rising, social initiatives are growing to help with poverty and wellbeing (it is too simplistic to say there is a decline in the church as they have an impact in so many ways)

2. nature of modernity - being modern does not mean ignoring religion. Being modern can mean embracing religion as many recognise sciences does not provide all of the solutions (if you are religious you can still be religious)

3. De privatisation - religion has helped to bring about positive social change so we cannot only agree religion is in the private realm (food banks, street pastors, the tussle trust, not private help everyone)

4. Globalisation - this means that there are transitional movements that focus on faith and human rights across the world, this has boosted christianity.

5. gender - there are a wide range of views on gender in Christian community - this can explain why some denominations are more successful in retaining numbers than others (quakerism has always had female elders and they are good at retaining numbers)

6. rational choice - some believe that religion is a market that thrives when the established church is lower. the decline of the state church is not the same as the decline in christianity. ( State has a less of an influence but this does not comment on christianity as a whole. The average person might light a candle, the jump between logic cant happen)

what does the change of the air time of songs of praise suggest about the shift in attitudes towards religion

the religious attitudes are decreasing in popularity as people are making themselves non believers and siding with science, The move in shows suggest that the world no longer watches and are interest in religion natured programmes when they could fund other things

Two percent of Anglican priests don't believe in God..

- poll discovered that as many as 16% are unclear about God

- 2% think God is a human Construct

to what extent can the Uk be called a christian country (30)

the effectiveness of christian response to challenge secularism, is sbecurlaism challenged or not (30)