secularisation

    Cards (15)

    • secularisation
      declining importance of religion within a society
    • wilson - belonging (instituitions), behaving (practices), and believing (thinking) are lost
    • explanations for secularisation
      weber - rational ways of thinking and acting replace religious ways
    • explanations for secularisation
      western societies have undergone a process of rationalism which undermines the religious worldview
    • explanations for secularisation
      weber - rationalism caused disenchantment - role of religion, magic, superstitions, and faith become less important in society
    • explanations for secularisation
      technology and science - gives more rational explanations for things that happen
    • arguments against secularisation
      heelas - spiritual revolution/resacrillisation of consciousness - return of religion in life
    • arguments against secularisation
      davie - privatisation of beliefs - 'believing without belonging' - people maintain religious beliefs but choose to keep it private
      • church attendance doesnt correlate religiosity, there are other ways of practising
    • arguments against secularisation
      stark and bainbridge - religious markets 'compete for competitors' and offer a wide range of choices
      individuals make rational choices based on the costs and benefits of available religious options
      increased competition between organisations = religious changes = relives belief in religion
    • arguments against secularisation
      people are inherently religious, seeking supernatural meaning and comfort - religion meets human needs
    • arguments against secularisation
      norris and inglehart - religion is a key part of society where there is a lack of economic security
      • explains why developing countries have retained high levels of religiosity whilst western countries have a good deal of material insecurity and religion fills the void as a compensator
    • X eurocentric theory - is it relevant globally?
    • X religion isn't declining, it's changing its form
      davie - from 'believing without belonging' to 'from obligation to consumption'
    • X one sided theory - focuses on decline and ignores religious revivals and growth of new religions
    • X evidence of failing church attendance ignores people who believe but don't go to church