Secularisation Theory

Wilson

Found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sundays in 1962. However, argued this was just an american way of life abd america was a secular society.

Hedaway

Found that opinion polls were overexaggerated and less people were attending churches than originally thought

Critisism of secularisation theory

Religion is not declining but simply changing for.

Bruce

Sees industrialisation as undermining the consensus of religious beloefs that hold small rural communities together.

Sacred Canopy

A shared set of beliefs held from an organisation that holds absolute monopoly of the truth and holds no competition

Wilson

2006 - one third of weddings occurred in a church compared to three fiths in 1971

Wilson

6.3% of adult population attended church in 2005. Sunday school attendence has also declined

Beckford

Agreed that religious diversity will lead some to question gheir religioud beliefs but this is not inevitable. Opposing views can strengthen a religious grouos commitment.

Weber

Argued the Protestant Reformation begun by Martin Luther in the 16th century started a process of rationalisation of life in the west. This replaced religious worldview with a rational, scientific one.

Wilson

Argued thst western societies had been undergoing a long term process of secularisation

Berger

Argues that another cause of secularisation is the trend towards religious diversity where instead of there being onlu one religious organisation there are many.

Wilson

Argues that in pre-industrial communities, shared values were expressed through collective religious rituals that integrated individuals. However, when religion lost its basis in stable communities, its lost its hold over individuals.

Technological World view

Bruces idea that we use rational thought during crises rather than supernatural explainations

Berger

Changed his views and now argues that diversity and choice actually stimulate interest and participation in religion.

Structual Differentiation

Defined by Parsons as a process of specialistion that occurs with the development of industrial society. Separate, soecialised institutions develop to carry out functions

Crockett

Estimates that during 1851, 40% or more of the adult populations attebded church

Critisism of secularisation theory

Evidence of falling church attendence ignores people who believe but do not attend

Aldridge

Points out that religion can be a source of identity on a world wide scale and some religious communities are imagined communities that interact through use of global media.

Bruce

Religion has become privatised - confined to the sphere of home and family. This means institutions have lost their significance

Critisism of secularisation theory

Religion may have declined in europe but not globally so it isn't universal

Critisism of secularisation theory

Religious diversity increases participation as it offers choice

Gill

Reviewed almost 100 national surveys on religious beliefs from 1939 to 1996. There is a decline in belief in a personal god and traditional teachings. From 23% to 43%

Critisism of secularisation theory

Secularisation theory is one sided. It focuses only on the decline

Disengagement of religion

Structual Differentiation leads to this. Its functions are tranferred to other institutions and religion becomes disconnected

Heelas and Woodhead

Study of religious decline in Kendal, Cumbria. Found New Age spirituality has grown because of a turn in todays culture, as a result traditional religions are declining and evangelical churches are more popular

Rationalisation

The process by which rational ways of thinking and acting come to replace religious ones.

Disenchantment

The process whereby magical and religious ways of thinking are abolished abd rationalisation becomes dominant mode of thought.

Secularisation

The process whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose social significance

Spiritual Revolution

The way in whicb traditional Christianity is giving way to New Age beliefs and practices

Bruce

Uses three sources of ecidence to prove America is secular: declining church attendence, secularisation from within and diversity and relativism

Cultural Defence

Where religion provides a focsl point for the defence of national, ethnic, local or group identity in a struggly against an external force such as a foreign power

Cultural Transition

Where religion provides support and a sense of community for ethnic groups such as migrants to a different community and culture