Secularisation

Created by: WignallRose
Created on: 01-11-16 17:05

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Secuarlisation
- Secularisation in Britain
  - Crockett = 40% of the population used to attend, not now
    - Decline in number of people going to church
    - Increase in average age of churchgoers
    - Fewer baptisms and church weddings
    - Decline in traditional beliefs
    - Greater diversity
  - Western societies in the process (Wilson)
  - 2015 = 5% of population at church
  - 'Bogus baptisms' due to faith schools
  - Identify as christian fell by a third
  - Until mid 19C provided education = without day to day influence in reduced
- Explanations for secularisation
  - Growth of social and religious diversity
  - Weber = protestant reformation started by Luther
    - Through reason and science we can discover laws of nature
    - Brings about disemchantment = loss of magic / religious
  - Bruce = scientific knowledge means religion taken less seriously
  - Parsons = structural differentiation (other institutions taken functions)
    - Disengagement and privatisation
  - Aldridge = religion cannot be source of identity
  - Berger = diversity creates crisis of credibility (undermines 'plausibility structure')
  - Bruce = counter trends: cultural defence, cultural transition
  - Berger = diversity stimulates interest in religion
- Secularisation in America
  - Wilson = 45% attend church, due to religion as a way of life
  - 1. Declining church attendance
    - 40% attendance doesn't match church stats
    - Bruce = self report masked the decline
  - 2. Secularisation from within
    - Religion as form of therapy
    - Popular by becoming less religious
    - Purpose = personal improvements
  - 3. Religious diversity
    - Bruce = practical relativism (accept others beliefs)
    - Removes absolutism
  - Criticisms
    - Not declining just changing
    - Ignores growth of new religions
    - Ignores people who believe but do not attend
    - Diversity increases participation as offers choice

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Secularisation

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