sociology- new beliefs in society

define secularisation

process when religious beliefs, practices and organisations loose thier social significance

4 changes to religion in uk

decline church attendence, increase avg age of churchgoers, fewer baptisms and greater diversity more non-christian religions

church attendence stats

4% of adult population attend on sundays, sunday schl declined and infant baptisms

religious affiliation stats

ID fell by 40%, adults with no religion rose to over 1/2

religious belief stats

declining like attendence and belief in personal god

religious institution stats

influence as social instutition declined, states taken over many functions used to perform.

4 explanationsof secularisation

weber, bruce, parsons, wilsons and berger

WEBER- rationalisation

rational thinking and acting has replaces religious ones in western societies

WEBER- disenchantment

new view that gods transcendent, events are predicatable and natural

PARSONS- stuctural differentiation

specialisation that occurs with development of industrial society

structural differentiation leads to

disengagement of religion as functions transferred to other institutions (state)

religion dominated pre-industrial society yet

is smaller and specialised in industrial society

WILSON- social and cultural diversity

decline of community, industrialisation and diversity of occupations, lifestyle and cultures

BERGER- religious pluralism

used to have a sacred canopy, however diversity breaks monopoly of truth (crisis of credibility)

criticisms of berger

changed mind diversity stimulates interest/ participation further and isnt inevitable can strengthen groups commitment

criticisms of wilson

some religious communities are via global media and some religious groups flourish in urban areas