CHRISTIANITY (y13) - Christianity and Secularisation

Define secular

something that is not connected with religion nor impacted by religious or spiritual concepts

How was the UK become more secular?

• Shops open on Sundays

• Religious holidays like Christmas are becoming increasingly secular

• Less religious influence on the law

• Fewer religious schools

• Science developing, challenges some religious ideas

How influential was Christianity pre-Reformation

Church had control over everything eg: education and politics

How did Christianity’s influence change during the Reformation (15th-16th cent)?

• Authority of the Church challenged by reformers and new churches established based on individual faith

• Eg: Martin Luther gave 95 reasons why the Catholic church was corrupt

How did the Enlightenment change the influence of religion?

• Science and reason became more important and was acceptable to be publicly atheist and attack religion

• Seen in Hume’s work

How did religion change in the 19th century?

• Religion is a personal commitment

• It is something that can make us feel better but it’s an illusion

• This is said by Feuerbach

What changed in the 20th cent?

Impact of wars and changes in society leads people to stop attending places of worship

What happened at the beginning of the 21st century?

• Rise of humanism

• Belief that morality can be rational and we can make the world better without the need of religion

How does this display how religion has been replaced as a source of truth and moral values?

• Science is bigge eg: Darwin’s theory of evolution and the Big Bang Theory

• Access to truth through the internet/ tech

• Reasoning/ empiricism eg Aristotle and Hume

• Moral values from dif authorities eg: parents, school, politicians

How does this show that religion has been relegated to the personal sphere?

• Rise of Protestantism, sola fide

• We don’t need church leaders to have a relationship with God

Who is Richard Dawkins and what are his beliefs surrounding religion?

• Militant Atheist

• Thinks God is a delusion and he doesn’t exist

• Is hostile towards theists

What does Dawkins’ main argument elaborate on?

The question of “who made God?”

What does Dawkins criticise about Christian practice?

• They pick and choose which bits of the Bible to take as symbolic and which to take literally

• He objects to the subjectivity of religious faith but also dislikes absolution

How does Dawkins depict religion as dangerous?

• Says religious people are led to crime while atheists aren’t led to evil

• Gives the example of the 7/7 bombings

• This devastated many victims and their families

• Says only religious faith is strong enough to encourage those actions

Why does Dawkins disagree with religious schools?

Places a basis on unquestionable belief which leads to extremism and terrorism

How does Dawkins describe God and what are the issues with this?

• “misogynistic, homophobic, megalomaniacal and sado-masochistic”

• There is more evidence to suggest God is loving

• As a scientist his claims should be well-evidenced

Name some of Dawkins’ publications

• “The God Delusion” - McGrath writes “The Dawkins Delusion” in response

• “The Blind Watchmaker”

• “Outgrowing God”

How are Dawkins’ claims influenced by Feuerbach?

He claims God is created by us and not the other way around

How does Dawkins use science to rebuke religion?

• He required empirical evidence, believes in evolution and the big bang

• We do not have this for God so it is irrational and there’s no reason to seek him out as an answer

• He believes we use God to fill in the gaps in our knowledge - “God of the gaps”

• Science is far more rational

How does Dawkins claim religion is immoral?

Theists rely on the word of God to make moral decisions, these should come from within ourselves not out of fear or a wish for reward in heaven

How could one counter some of Dawkins’ claims?

• Religion goes beyonf reason - “belief in” rather than “belief that”

• Dawkins believes all theists to be extremists but this is simple not the case

• Violence can be secular

• Religion holds great positive value in people’s lives

• Religion can be used for good

• Dawkins looks at small bits of evidence and jumps to big conclusions

• He doesn’t really understand religion and its context as he’s not a theologian!!

Who is Alister McGrath ?

• He was an atheist who converted to Christianity while studying Chem at Oxford

• Wrote “The Dawkins Delusion”

What does McGrath say about religion and science?

• Science can be seen in different ways, Christians can believe in it too

• Science and religion can work together eg: Christian vision of God and reality

• If Christianity is true then science actually makes more sense eg: Creation of the universe, design due to complexities of science

What is creationism?

The belief that God literally created the world (the Genesis story) about 8000 years ago

How does Dawkins worsen creationism and what is McGrath’s view on this?

• Dawkins’ militant nature makes creationists stronger in their beliefs in order to combat him - they are two extremes

• McGrath likes neither as neither are truly scientific - he sits in the middle

What example does McGrath give of secular violence?

• Atheists killing theists

• eg: Stalin ordered the killing and imprisonment of thousands of religious leaders to eradicate the concept of God

• Shows how political ideology can breed violence as much as religion

What mistakes does McGrath say Dawkins seems to make?

• He believes all theists are fundamentalists when they aren’t

• Doesn’t acknowlegde that if religion went away there would still be violence between the sexes/races/genders

• Dawkins also doesn’t separate “belief in God” from “religion”

• He doesn’t apply the historical contexts to the writing of religious texts

What does McGrath say science and religion are?

“partially overlapping magesteria”

What percentage drop in Christianity has there been in the last 10 years?

13%

Define weak atheism

Not believing in God

Define strong atheism

Actively deciding that God does not exist

Define Militant Atheism

Atheism that is hostile to belief in God

What 3 ways does atheism argue against religion?

• Faith as irrational

• Faith as dangerous

• Faith as abusive

How is faith irrational?

• There is no evidence for God

• Prayers aren’t always answered

• Existence of evil and suffering

• Theists constantly qualify God

• Theists pick and choose

How is faith dangerous?

• Religious wars and conflict

• Extremism and terrorism

• Teaches shame and repression

• Can breed cults

• Could be said to support slavery, prejudice and discrimination

How is faith abusive?

• Leaders exploit their power

Define materialism

Material possessions, wealth and personal comfort being more important then spiritual beliefs or practices

What was the role of monasteries in the middle ages like?

• Living a monastic life was superior as a moral/ spiritual state

• Involved living a life of poverty and simplicity

What has happened in recent years to alter the way we view wealth?

• The secular world requires you to have money/ possessions

• Rise of capitalism allows wealth to be controlled by individuals

• This leads to inequality and poverty

What does Luke 16 say about wealth and possessions?

• Tells story of a rich man who didn’t give to the poor and needy

• “The rich man also died…where he was in torment”

• He is punished not for his wealth but because he didn’t share it

What does Luke 6 say about wealth and possessions?

• “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God”

• Says the poor will be rewarded in heaven for faith even during hardships and not idolising money over God

What does Matthew 19 say about wealth and possessions?

• “It is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven”

• Is about idolatry, money shouldn’t take precedence over God

What does Acts 2 say about wealth and possessions?

• “distribute the money among all", according to what each one needed”

• Says wealth should be shared

• Is from the Early Church, is model for how Christianity should be

What does 1 Timothy 6 say about wealth and possessions?

• “For love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”

• It is not money that is the problem, but the way we interact with it

What is Christian Aid and how does it challenge secular values?

• A Christian charity

• Aims to eradicate poverty and provide disaster relief

• Can make legal changes

• Goes against secular values because believes in sharing wealth to help others

What is Bruderhof and how does it challenge secular/ material values?

• Is a Christian community inspired by the Early Church

• They share all wealth and possessions with eachother

• Mostly in Germany but also in Kent

• Rejects materialism because nothing is owned by the individual

What is the Prosperity Gospel and how does it support secular values?

• They believe that if faith increases, God will reward them through health and wealth

• Supports the secular because it works on the idea of profiting from faith

What is tithing and how does it challenge the secular?

• Means giving 10% of income to the church

• In Genesis it says “of all that you give me, I will give you a tenth”

• It is obligatory

• Challenges secular values as it demands that wealth is shared

What is the aim of Fresh Expressions?

• To bring the Church and faith to those who cannot access it but also those who have never encountered it

• Aims to evangelise and build communities accessible to all

• Works WITH the secular

What is the Biblical justification for Fresh Expressions?

Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down and all people spoke in tongues making faith accessible

How does Fresh Expressions challenge militant atheism?

• Those such as Dawkins see all theists as extremists

• FE explores more moderate types of Christianity which can involve itself in the lives of others

• Shows religion doesn’t have to cause violence

Name one of the Fresh Expressions projects

• Digital Saints

• They gather 3x a week for Night Prayer online, begins with a reflection of their day or a poem

• Once a month they meet to walk and meditate

• Means they can stay connected online and in person so builds relationships and faith

What are some of the problems with Fresh Expressions?

• It’s not organised/ led by ordained ministers

• Takes away from traditional Christianity

• Loss of the scared elements and respect

What is the House Church Movement and how is it different to regular church?

• They meet in houses not church buildings

• It is non-liturgical and non-structured

• There are no sacraments

• Is all about personal reflection, prayer and spiritual healing

What is the history behind the House Church Movement?

• In the New Testament, the Early Church meetings were in houses

• They shared belongings and praised God

How does the HCM work against the secular?

They aren’t taking faith into the secular world but bringing people into their homes reverting it to the traditions of the Early Church

What are some of the potential problems of the HCM?

• No authority so the advice could be wrong

• Could become a cult as they are isolated from outside influence

How is Christianity still relevant today?

• People still attend church esp during holidays eg: Christmas and Easter

• Still largest religion

• Influence in the law

• Still taught in schools

Define Liberation Theology

• The church should support people by bringing justice and power to the powerless

• Links to the Social Gospel Movement - puts Bible teachings into practice

• Also like Situation Ethics - teaches love first!

Define Traditional Theology

The church showed focus on supporting people spiritually

Who was Oscar Romero and why did he decide to speak out?

• Was Archbishop of San Salvador in El Salvador

• Most lived in extreme poverty, few families controlled all wealth

• Violence used against people to repress them and against the repression

• Chose to speak after a fellow priest was killed

How did Romero speak out against the injustice?

• Condemned repressions and used his sermons to challenge those in power

• Named all the people that went missing/ were killed

• These sermons were broadcast nationwide and was the only way people found out about these atrocities as the country was heavily censored

How did Romero’s life end?

• He received death threats and knew he would be killed

• 1980 he was shot dead at the altar

Give a quote by Romero to summarise his actions

“Aspire not to have more but to be more”

What was “Faith in The City” and what did they find?

• 1985 CoE researched urban areas and did a report on their findings

• Found high levels of poverty and powerlessness in poor communities

How did this report help the Church of England implement changes?

• They asked Churches to be part of their communities and provide for secular as well as spiritual needs

• eg: use of buildings for help for the homeless as shelter, playgroups for parents etc

• Led to the est. of the Church Urban Fund

• They asked the govt to help improve poverty eg: employment and housing

• CoE now regularly holds food banks and homeless support

What are the arguments for Liberationism?

• Living out love pragmatically

• Following Jesus’ life and teachings

• Brings God’s kingdom on Earth

• Rejects legalism to treat others with respect

• Demonstrates Godly love

What are the arguments against Liberationism?

• Not Church’s place to intervene in legal matters

• People should help themselves not expect others to do so

• It is wrong to see Jesus as a political revolutionary

• Church is only there for spiritual help