Beliefs in Society 3

Secularisation.

What is secularisation?

Religious thinking, practices, and institutions lose their social significance

What does Weber argue?

Rational thinking has replaced religious influence because scientific progress helped society more than prayers

What does Weber argue brought on disenchantment?

Protestant Reformation

What does Bruce argue following Weber?

Technological worldview - little room for religious explanations as people have scientific knowledge

What does Parsons argue?

Religion is disengaged from other institutions and is not needed

What is a criticism of Parsons?

Some places religion has involvement in the state

What does Berger argue?

Sacred canopy gave monopoly of truth as no arguments against Christianity

What is a criticism of Berger?

Beckford - opposing views can strengthen a belief

What did Davie argue?

• Belief without belonging

• Vicarious religion

• Spiritual health service

What is belief without belonging?

People have a faith but don’t attend church

What is vicarious religion?

Religion is now practiced by an active minority on behalf of the majority

What is the spiritual health service?

Religion is there to be used when needed

What did Voas and Crockett argue?

British Social Attitudes survey shows both attendance and belief is declining

What does Bruce argue about religion?

Religious participation requires a strong belief, commitment, and needs to b socialised to the next generation to survive

What did Hervieu Leger argue?

Decline in religion has led to cultural anmesia which has led to spiritual shopping

What is a pilgrim?

Those in holistic milieus

What is a convert?

Person who joins a religious group that offers strong sense of belonging

What is a criticism of pick and mix religiousity?

Bruce - religion is based on a strong commitment

What does Bauman argue?

Moral relativism - no absolute truths

What is a criticism of Bauman?

Exaggerates the changes in the importance of religion

What does Lyon argue?

Religious ideas have been disembedded and are accessible through the media making it a cultural resource people can draw on as they wish

What is a criticism of Lyon?

Those accessing religion on the internet could already be believers

What is the Kendal Project?

Heelas and Woodhead did head counts and questionnaires to discover the number involved in holistic milieu activities

What did Heelas and Woodhead find?

Spiritual revolution was going to take over traditional religion by 2030

How can the Kendal Project be criticised?

Not representative as it takes place in a small town

What do Stark and Bainbridge argue?

Church attendance declining has resulted in a gap in the market as people are naturally religious - joining NAMs