Checklist and revision Secularisation Checklist and revision

1.Definition/Measurement 2. Participation figures 3. Disengagement & Differentiation 4. Pluralism 5. Religious Organisation (watering down) 6. Disenchantment (desacrilisation) 7. International Comparisons 8. Postmodernism 9. Deeper thinking

Definition and Measurement Wilson definition Dying or transforming Classical theories (Comte/Durkheim/Marx/Weber) Initial problems with theory – golden age?/variations between societies/different definitions and meanings

Focus 1: Participation (stats) Attendance/membership/ceremonies Wilson/Bruce/Davie Problems Many are estimates Membership calculated in different ways Figures can be distorted Social pressure to attend in past (Martin) When was the golden age of religiosity? Rise in membership for some religions – sects/fundamentalism Individuation Brierley – change is slow Belief without belonging (see Surveys of belief)

Focus 2: Disengagement Church power/close to state (see Medieval times) Martin Bruce – church critical of state Martin – religion now focus on specific role Casanova – deprivatisation Differentiation (Parsons) – specialised functions – efficient Structural differentiation Generalisation of core values Steve Bruce critique (no single moral universe, limited involvement in public sphere) Bruce – Societalization process

Focus 3: Pluralism One faith = religion strong See Durkheim and functions (totemism etc) Bruce – impact of union/industrialisation/migration /modernisation/fragmentation State not support one faith in multicultural society Roof & McKinney – USA - Religion ‘has lost force as an integrative influence’. May be due to ethnic diversity/immigration/globalisation Maybe pluralism = tolerance = thriving diversity of beliefs and faiths. ECUMENICALISM

Focus 4: Religious Organisations Will Herberg – watered down message - Religious beliefs have been compromised and adapted to ‘fit in with wider society’. They reflect the ‘American way of life’ rather than the word of God. Church-going is more about ‘being American’ than about being religious Roof and McKinney - Not all religious groupings seem to have turned their back on ‘authentic religion’ – New Christian Right/Fundamentalism Steve Bruce (1988) argues that - British mainstream churches have abandoned, or watered down a number of religious convictions

Focus 5: Descacrilisation Sacred has no place in modern life – rational action Disenchantment – Weber Wilson agrees with Weber – rationalisation Berger – loss of magic/mystery Man has control of his world Evaluation The development of new age beliefs Rise of Eastern mysticism in the west. Religious revivalism on a global scale (fundamentalism) Postmodernist arguments about moving beyond scientific thinking. Was pre-industrial society so spiritual? (Shiner/Douglas)

Popularity of ‘scientific based’ religiosity – UFOs, ESP, spoon-bending etc Resacrilisation Growth of NRMs/NAMs (reasons) Growth of fundamentalism (reasons) PoMo and revival of religiosity

International Comparisons Martin – different countries have different experiences Note the factors that strengthen religion in society Be aware of variations globally – Sweden, UK, USA Third world trends Keppell – revivalism as a change to secularisation

Implications of Postmodernism Grand-narratives are ‘overarching’ belief systems that claim universal authority…declining Local traditions eroded – religion not bound to culture/society…globalisation (Giddens) Meanings have become individualised – personalised and not following organised religion Signs/symbols lost meaning..consumed as commodities Blending parts of faiths – choice – variety? Pick and mix Religion no longer a source of identity (Bauman) Self-orientation (Heelas) – the rise of NRMs/NAMs The rise of fundamentalism (see pomo powerpoint) – Giddens/Bauman

Critical Discussion Martin – reject term – meaningless term Religion is changing not dying Glock & Stark – need a clearer definition Bruce – religion important to individuals – but losing social significance Casanova – 3 aspects of secularisation When was the golden age of religion? Maybe religion just become individualised International picture