secularisation

secularisation

• he process where religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose social significance (Wilson, 1966).

  It means decline in religion’s social influence and personal importance.

evidence for secularisation

• Census 2021 data - less than 46.2% described themselves as Christian

• no religion was the second most common response, increasing by 12.0% percentage points to 37.2% from 25.2% in 2011

• modernisation

• separation of state and religious institutions

• Weber - rational/scientific thinking  - Scientific thinking + rational explanation replaces religious ones.

• “Disenchantment of the world” — magical/religious explanations decline.

• Bureaucratic, logical thinking dominates modern life.

• Bruce’s technological worldview - scientific explanation Religion has become “disembedded” — moves online, into popular culture.

• People engage with religion through social media, TV, and music.

• “Pick and mix spirituality” (Bauman, Heelas) → consumer religion.

• individualism - people are free to choose their own values

• disenchantment - eradicates magical, supernatural, and religious ways of thinking, replacing it with more rational and scientific explanations

• industrialization - breaking up of smaller communities, variations in occupations, cultures

• structural differentiation - Parsons - loss of functions of religion, other institutions have replaced the role of the church

• Society becomes more specialised → religion loses many functions.

• Example: education → schools, not church; healthcare → NHS.

• Religion becomes more private and personal, not central to society.

• religious diversity - causes secularization - Berger - sacred canopy has been replaced by a plurality of life worlds - leads to a crisis of credibility for traditional religions -

• Urbanisation & diversity → break down shared religious values.

• Multiple faiths = pluralism → undermines “sacred canopy” (Berger).

• Individualism replaces collective worship.

• Wilson - diversity has undermined the authority of religious institutions -

• Church attendance and membership have fallen sharply since the 1960s.

• Bruce: “Religion has become marginal.”

• Fewer clergy → fewer young people trained in religion.

evidence against secularisation

• 1. Religion Is Changing, Not Declining 📖 Davie (1994) – “Believing Without Belonging”

  • People still believe, but don’t attend church as much.

  • Religion becomes private and individualised — faith without institutions.

  • Example: online worship, personal prayer.

• 🛍 Hervieu-Léger (2000) – “Spiritual Shopping”

  • People create personal spiritual journeys — mix beliefs (yoga, astrology, Christianity).

  • Religion fits individual lifestyles — consumer choice.

Lyon (2000) – “Jesus in Disneyland”

• Religion has become disembedded — moved into media, pop culture, and the internet.

• People now experience religion through TV, music, film, and online spaces.

• Postmodern “re-enchantment of the world.”

Woodhead (2009) – Feminisation of Religion

• Religion has become a space for female empowerment and identity.

• Rise of spirituality and holistic movements (e.g. yoga, healing) appeal to women.

• Religion provides autonomy rather than oppression for some women.

Religion as a Source of Identity & Resistance 🌏 Bruce (2002) – Cultural Defence

• Religion can unite a community against external threat. - cultural defence and cultural transition

• Examples:

  • Poland under communism → Catholic Church = resistance to Soviet control.

  • Islamism resisting Westernisation.

🌍 Bruce – Cultural Transition

• Religion helps migrants maintain identity in a new country.

• E.g. ethnic minorities in the UK using mosques, temples, or churches as cultural centres.

Beckford (2003) - opposing views, which question faith, can strengthen

a religious group commitment rather than undermining them - a rise in some fundamentalist religions rejecting modernization

• Religion is not just conservative — it can stimulate social debate.

• Fundamentalist and global religious movements provoke dialogue about values, gender, and identity.

Martin

Has Britain even been religious in the first place? Victorians only attended church for social standing and respectability - argues the whole debate is Eurocentric

• The impact of secularisation varies by country.

• In the UK: decline;
  In the USA: religion still strong due to pluralism and denominationalism.

Norris & Inglehart (2004) – Existential Security Theory

• Religion stronger in insecure societies (poverty, inequality).

• Western countries = secure → secular.

• Developing countries = insecure → religious.

Heelas & Woodhead (2005) – Kendal Project - religious revolution

• Studied religion in Kendal (UK).

• Found decline in traditional churches, but growth in New Age spirituality.

• Shows a “spiritual revolution” — shift from religion to spirituality.

evaluations

• Secularisation explains Western Europe well, but not globally.

• ✅ Religion is changing form rather than disappearing.

• ❌ Institutional religion is weaker → less moral authority, political power, or social cohesion.

• ✅ Religion remains relevant in crises, immigration, and personal identity.