What period is commonly regarded as the golden age of religion and why?
The 19th century as church attendance sat between 40-50%
What did Bruce find about the function of religion in pre-modern societies?
It served more of a cultural function than a spiritual one. Religious figures would serve the whole community in times of strife.
What did Rodney Stark find about the average person’s relationship to religion in the medieval period?
Historical records found that medieval churches were chaotic places. People basically just hung out and relaxed whilst mass took place.
What did David Martin find about Victorian church attendance?
It was moreso a sign of middle class respectability than a sign of spiritual strength- people went so that they looked sophisticated basically.