Secularism

• • Secularism = the role of the church has changed; less people are attending church and less people claim to be Christian. In many places, the role of the church has been removed from public life, religion is more of a private matter.  
  • Procedural secularism – this is what we have in the UK – make sure that all voices are heard in society and religious opinions aren’t prioritized 
  • Programmatic secularism – this is what France has - all religious views should be excluded from public institutions such as government and schools 
• Secular humanism = describing those who believe that humans can live good lives according to reason (without religion) They value autonomy, science, human development, human responsibility, education and imagination.  
• Most faith schools in the UK are Christian. Some people are in favour of faith schools because they think: 

  • We should value the history of the English school system which is deep rooted 
  • Give parents choice to have a religious ethos 
  • Society is diverse so we should have diversity in education 
  • Children perform better in faith schools (stats) 
• France is an example of programmatic secularism. Religion is absent from government and the state.  
• The UK is an example of procedural secularism. There is a diverse range of beliefs in the Uk, we value Christianity still (head of the state) and doctors may still refuse to do certain procedures like abortions if they aren’t compatible with religious beliefs. An increasing amount of people are atheist and less people go to church.  
• Scholars in favour of secularisation: Comte, Freud and Dawkins
• Comte:

  • Civilized society develops from theological (religious) to metaphysical (abstract) to positive (scientific)
  • Religion should give way to secular positivism
  • We will live happier lives without the superstition of religion 
• Freud:

  • People would be much happier without religion
  • Societies developed around Christianity were major causes of oppression
  • People create a sense of certainty with God to fulfil their psychological needs
  • Religion belongs to an early stage of social development before a person has developed powers of reason, so religion is childish and mainly practised by the uneducated
  • The repetition and routine of religion gives security and suppresses the ‘id’ for people.  
• Dawkins

  • Religion does not have a place in society
  • Monotheism is delusion
  • Why would people would believe in something that has no evidence, he thought that everything is explained with evolution so there is no requirement for God
  • Those trying to reconcile with the material and spiritual by claiming that science and religion can work together are being intellectually naive
  • The notion of a creator justifies irrational and dehumanizing behaviour and adults should be able to find meaning without the need for God.   
• Dawkins:

  • Religion is indoctrination and abuse because these beliefs are harmful
  • They create conflict even within religions
  • They are taught to children as a form of abuse, so it is particularly harmful for children
  • Sexual abuse of children by Christian ministers is an example of this
  • Whereas science opens up the mind.  
• Weaknesses of the secularisation thesis argument (in favour for secularisation):

  • Ward said the secularisation argument ignores the impact of mystical experiences, Freud is viewing everything in material terms (a reductionalist) however this doesn’t explain the impact of mystical experiences 
  • James said Freud didn’t keep an open mind as he started off with a negative view on religion, it is inevitable that his conclusions are also negative 
  • McGrath argues that religion isn’t a necessary condition of religion, Jesus taught against violence.
• Weaknesses of the secularisation thesis argument (in favour for secularisation):

  • Freud claims that religion creates delusions and cuts people off from the real world but realistically sometimes religion gives people deeper appreciation of life  
  • Dawkins argues that religion is abuse, but can we reject all religion based on extreme examples like ministers raping children? Hasn’t atheism also caused harm?
  • Dawkins claims that questioning the meaning of life is pointless, but it may not be 
  • Making sweeping generalisations and assumptions  
• Weaknesses of the secularisation thesis argument (in favour for secularisation):

  • Unclear how to measure and define secularisation, people may say that they are not religious, but many say that they still continue to pray
  • Religion still plays a significant role in society, people still believe Christianity should influence social policy. There are new modern religious movements
  • Religious commitment in the past in unclear, the evidence is not straightforward. So maybe people in the past were simply forced to go to Church as it was expected (they weren't more committed), people now have choice
• Weaknesses of the secularisation thesis argument (in favour for secularisation)

  • Could just be an assumption as we may just be focused in the UK and not be looking at other countries like China 
  • There is still Christian values and practices valued in the UK like how the Bishops still have chairs in the house of lords 
• Arguments against secularisation (its a bad thing or its not happening):
• Arguments against secularisation:

  • Merchant - religion doesn't have to be negative, it can create social connections and reduce loneliness. Believing in God can lead to people living happier lives. 
  • Taylor - humanism is unsatisfactory, it gives too much importance to the individual and their individual experiences. It creates a lack of community. We are simply in a phase of Western society; we haven’t suddenly discovered that God doesn’t exist.  
  • Berger - a false assumption to say that we live in a secularised world. Except for the Western world, the world is furiously religious