Essay Plans – Secularisation
Outline and explain two reasons why it can be argued secularisation is occurring in the UK (10
marks)
Decline in religious belief;
Religious thinking become marginalised as science and technology has undermined it.
Bruce argues that religion has been relegated to the side-lines of life.
For example, he found in 1980s that 60-70% of people believed in god, but in 2010 this
was down to just 17%.
Also, Weber argues we experience ‘desacralisation of consciousness’ where we lose the
capacity to think with religious thinking.
E.g. No longer have faith in religion for curing disease, but science.
However, methodological issues with this claim – how can one quantify religious belief.
Low participation doesn’t mean lack of belief – Davie, believing without belonging.
Decline in religious institutions:
Religion no longer an institution that is involved in every area of social life.
Easy to live life untouched by religion – rise of Atheists.
Today there are increasing numbers of alternative sources of knowledge – media, free
education, internet.
For example, Sunday schools used to enrol 1 in 3 kids, nowadays they struggle to enrol 1
in 25 kids – on the brink of extinction.
However, influence of religious institutions has not declined among minority ethnic
groups.
Remain focal parts of community life for minorities who struggle in the secular world.
Also, although Sunday schools are declining, faith schools are increasing, and religious
thinking has been brought into the education system.
, Essay Plans – Secularisation
Outline and explain two reasons why it can be argued that secularisation is not occurring in the
UK (10 marks)
Believing without belonging:
Believing in god does not mean having to attend church services.
Davie argues that people are now believing without belonging.
Bellah backs this up – suggests there has been reorientation from public participation in
religion to more private worship.
For example, from her European Values Study, Davie found that declining religious
participation has not been accompanied with declining religious belief.
However, Voas and Crockett argue this is myth. They found from 5750 respondents in
countries, inc. UK, that both believing and belonging are falling
Unchurched people do not consider themselves religious and have no belief in god.
Resacralisation:
Religion is not less influential there is just a reorientation of belief.
It is just different from what it used to be – people now turn to the new age.
Idea of self-spirituality is drawing people to the new age.
For example, people partake in meditation, astrology, spiritual therapies etc. to go on a
journey or personal development and discovery.
Growing vitality of non-traditional religions – still religions.
However, there is often weak commitment to such ‘religions’.
Glendinning and Bruce found that although many people partake in such spirituality,
weak commitment is rare.
Often a phasal thing, stop when they are satisfied with their progress.
Outline and explain two reasons why it can be argued secularisation is occurring in the UK (10
marks)
Decline in religious belief;
Religious thinking become marginalised as science and technology has undermined it.
Bruce argues that religion has been relegated to the side-lines of life.
For example, he found in 1980s that 60-70% of people believed in god, but in 2010 this
was down to just 17%.
Also, Weber argues we experience ‘desacralisation of consciousness’ where we lose the
capacity to think with religious thinking.
E.g. No longer have faith in religion for curing disease, but science.
However, methodological issues with this claim – how can one quantify religious belief.
Low participation doesn’t mean lack of belief – Davie, believing without belonging.
Decline in religious institutions:
Religion no longer an institution that is involved in every area of social life.
Easy to live life untouched by religion – rise of Atheists.
Today there are increasing numbers of alternative sources of knowledge – media, free
education, internet.
For example, Sunday schools used to enrol 1 in 3 kids, nowadays they struggle to enrol 1
in 25 kids – on the brink of extinction.
However, influence of religious institutions has not declined among minority ethnic
groups.
Remain focal parts of community life for minorities who struggle in the secular world.
Also, although Sunday schools are declining, faith schools are increasing, and religious
thinking has been brought into the education system.
, Essay Plans – Secularisation
Outline and explain two reasons why it can be argued that secularisation is not occurring in the
UK (10 marks)
Believing without belonging:
Believing in god does not mean having to attend church services.
Davie argues that people are now believing without belonging.
Bellah backs this up – suggests there has been reorientation from public participation in
religion to more private worship.
For example, from her European Values Study, Davie found that declining religious
participation has not been accompanied with declining religious belief.
However, Voas and Crockett argue this is myth. They found from 5750 respondents in
countries, inc. UK, that both believing and belonging are falling
Unchurched people do not consider themselves religious and have no belief in god.
Resacralisation:
Religion is not less influential there is just a reorientation of belief.
It is just different from what it used to be – people now turn to the new age.
Idea of self-spirituality is drawing people to the new age.
For example, people partake in meditation, astrology, spiritual therapies etc. to go on a
journey or personal development and discovery.
Growing vitality of non-traditional religions – still religions.
However, there is often weak commitment to such ‘religions’.
Glendinning and Bruce found that although many people partake in such spirituality,
weak commitment is rare.
Often a phasal thing, stop when they are satisfied with their progress.
