Against secularization

Heelas- holistic milieu

although traditional belief is declining, there is a ‘spiritual revolution’ growing

people still needing comfort and meaning in their lives, rather than disappearing

people are taking a ‘pick and mix’ approach to religion (post-modernist view on religion)

Voas- Fuzzy fidelity

The fuzzy faithful of those who may hold religious beliefs without joining traditional religious organisations and may simply be disillusioned with traditional churches or developing more spiritual individual beliefs

fuzzy fidelity is people who are neither regular churchgoers or self-consciously non-religious

Bellah- USA

Bellah suggested that nearly 40 years ago when they declining church attendance in the USA started happening didn’t mean to decline in religion but search for more personal religious experiences and she suggested there had been a re-orientation for public participation in traditional religious institutions to more private worship

Stark and bainbridge- religious market theory

there is a constant demand for religion as people need them to compensate for their challenges in life therefore there is a need for religion to answer the big questions and give us hope

religion is high in America because they have a array of religions, especially Christian denominations that develop and adapt to the needs of a diverse population

Sharot- criticisms

criticises Stark and Bainbridge because they only focus on mainstream Christianity and ignore other world religions they only apply to the USA. They do not consider more inclusive approaches like new religious movements and new age movements

Norris and Inglehart

they observed that there seems to be higher levels of religion in countries and communities where there are higher levels of poverty natural disasters and instability. This means that religion offers answers and reassurance about the future and afterlife are going to be more attractive to many people living dangerous and uncertain lives