Secularisation and Modern Society (OCR A-Level Sociology): Revision Notes

Secularisation and Modern Society

Secularisation

Reason for secularisation (1):

There has been a large decline in church attendance.

• In today's society, only 5% of adults regularly on Sundays, in comparison to around 40% in 1851. Analysis: This suggests that religion is losing its significance in society as people make less effort to practice their religion by attending church.

Reason for secularisation (2):

• 72% of adults in the UK said religion is not an important part of their daily life. This suggests that perhaps both religious belief and church attendance may be declining in importance together.

This may be explained by science replacing religion.

Post-modernists – Science has become our main meta-narrative, whereas in the past, it was religion.

Weber - This may be due to Western society undergoing a process of rationalisation. As a result, religious ways of thinking are being replaced by more rational ones, such as science

This has ultimately led to the disenchantment and decline in religious ways of thinking, as religious explanations of the world are perhaps no longer needed.

3. More religious diversity

Multiple religious organisations to choose from, not just one interpretation of faith, there are many. Monopolies of truth are challenged

Evaluation:

Opposing views can strengthen a religious group's commitment to its existing beliefs, rather than undermine them

Reason against secularisation (1):

Religious belief itself may not be declining.

Davie – The way religiosity is measured is invalid. This is because in a post-modern society, with rising individualisation, religion isn't practised in the same way that it was in the past

Instead, religion has become something that is practised in the private sphere as more people believe but don't belong. This suggests that, although the importance of religion may appear to be declining publicly, it is still important to individuals, and isn't disappearing entirely

Therefore, belief in religious ideas is still strong, but due to individualisation, it appears to be declining in official statistics as religion becomes more privatised

Evaluation:

Bruce – Believing but not belonging is a form of weak religion. Therefore, the importance of religion may still be declining as religion is now weaker than in the past.

However, Stark and Bainbridge argue that secularisation isn't a uni-directional process. As a result, religion can increase or decline and neither one is unstoppable.

Reason against secularisation (2):

Secularisation may not be taking place everywhere, as in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka and Yemen, over 99% of people said that religion is an important part of their daily life.

Norris and Inglehart - Different countries have different levels of religiosity, and in poorer countries where there is high existential insecurity, religiosity is high, as it provides security.

This suggests that in high-income countries, religious explanations may not be needed due to there being high existential security.

Therefore, secularisation may only be occurring in the West and so perhaps isn't disappearing entirely