secularisation debate essay

For secularisation: Bruce

point: religion has declined today, and here are the reasons why

like Weber, claims that it was the characteristics of protestant beliefs that contributed to secularisation

but there were also other changes in wider society, that contributed alongside the protestant beliefs:

1. structural differentiation - separation of different social institutions, them becoming increasingly specialised in their role (church, family, education)

2. social differentiation - development of social classes, occupied different social worlds

3. societalisation - as individualism occurred, processes linked to societalisation (e.g. going to church) became unnecessary

4. schisms - splits in traditional religions; new religious beliefs may have made established religious beliefs weaker

the most significant reason for the decline in religion is that there are many alternative views of the universe for people to choose from today rather than religion with its one particular account of the absolute truth

For secularisation: Wilson (1994)

religion has lost its significance at a societal, institutional, and individual level

secularisation is about the fact that religion no longer has the authority to define morals and rules about the way people live their lives

Wilson agrees with Bruce that secularisation is linked to the decline in community in contemporary society

Against: Stark and Bainbridge

while the secularisation process is occurring among traditional religions, at the same time there is a regrowth of new forms of religion or a religious revival, so the secularisation process is never fully complete

Against: Giles Keppel

there is regrowth in some traditional forms of religion in the West and beyond, e.g. Hinduism

For: Weber

point: science and rationalisation have undermined belief in religion, in accordance with Weber’s theory

argued that religion would decline in importance because of the development of modernity

modern societies are seen as incompatible with religion having a central role in society

thought people would act less in terms of emotion and tradition and more in terms of the rational pursuit of goals

calls this process rationalisation

argued this would gradually erode the influence of religion as people began to turn to science for their understanding of the world

e.g. people would no longer believe in prayer

Declining rates of religious attendance (For)

England and Wales - from 40% Church attendance in the 1851 Census to 5.4% in 2015

Brierley - in the 1920s and 30s, over 90% of babies were baptised, vs. just over 20% in 2009

Against: Davie (2002)

while there is evidence to suggest that affiliation to traditional Christianity is in decline in some parts of the world (UK), it is thriving in other areas

particularly in denominational form

there are parts of Europe where affiliation to Christianity remains high, such as Poland or the Republic of Ireland

Against: Casanova (1994)

supports the idea that religious disengagement is not happening everywhere

this may be the case in Europe, but it is not seen in other parts of the world

argues religions are becoming stronger, not weaker

‘public religions are becoming important in many countries as a global force

Bruce (1995)

agrees that the Church of England has lost power as it has grown more distant from the British state

in the US, religion still has important roles in society

Christians with strong religious belief are active in politics, particularly the New Christian Right

Grey area: New Religious/Age Movements

decline in traditional dominant established religions and growth in new religious movements could show that religion is becoming less important in people’s lives, supporting the secularisation thesis

alternatively, it could be taken as evidence that people continue to be religious simply through different forms of religion which they feel may be more relevant to contemporary society

Against: growth in privatised belief and believing without belonging