Evaluate the view that society is becoming more secular (20 marks)
Secularisation refers to the decline of religious influence in both public and private life. It it believed
by many sociologists that modern society is becoming less religious, and that religion has less
influence on society than in the past 100 years. Sociologists such as Max Weber and Steve Bruce
argue that secularisation is real in society whereas Grace Davie and Rodney Stark and Roger Finke
criticise the thesis and believe that religion still exists in our society
One theorist that believes that society is becoming more secular is Max Weber (1920). Weber coined
the term rationalisation, which refers to scientific and logical thinking replacing religious and
mystical explanations. He argues that as societies modernise, they undergo rationalisation which
consequently leads to the replacement of religious explanations. According to weber, events are no
longer to be explained as the work of supernatural forces, but the scientific workings of nature.
Before rationalisation, events such as the Big Bang and evolution were religiously explained, but
increased scientific understanding has caused a decline in this belief. This has led to society
becoming more secular.
However, Davie argue that while church attendance may have declined, belief in religion has not.
She states that many people still believe in god or hold religious values, they just may not regularly
attend services. She calls this “believing without belonging”. Davie blamed theses changes on people
becoming increasingly reluctant to join and belong to organisations, and the change that religion is
no linger in forced or imposed, but a matter of personal choice. Evidence for this theory is the
continued popularity of religious ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, even among non-
regular churchgoers. Davies arguments can be seen as evidence against secularisation, and disagrees
that society is becoming more secular
The privatisation of religion is an idea proposed by Steve Bruce that religion is increasingly becoming
a personal, private matter rather than being central to public life. Individuals may still hold religious
beliefs but do not actively engage in communal worship. This may be explained through the Kendall
project.
The Kendall project researches secularisation and the attendance of congregational and holistic
domains in the town of Kendall. The project found that traditional churches were loosing support
which holistic religions were growing. Holistic religions refer to something that is “spiritual but not
religious”. An example of this is that was found during the Kendal project was yoga and spirituality
such as crystals and astrology. The Kendal project believed that the growth of the holistic milieu was
due to a turn in our cultural (rise in individualisation) and that traditional religions demand
obedience and duty that doesn’t fit with a modern lifestyle
In 2000, sociologists Rodney Stark and Roger Finke criticised Bruce’s secularisation theory with their
religious market theory. They believed that is isn’t realistic to predict that the world will become
atheistic, as humans always need hope and are naturally religious to deal with hardships. They broke
the human need for religion into three sections, compensatory, the cycle of renewal and religious
competition. Religious compensators refer to when rewards are unobtainable to an individual, but
religion is able to compensate by promising supernatural rewards such as an afterlife. This creates
hope in humans and is a reason to continue. Stark and Finke believed that there is also a cycle of
religious decline, revival and renewal. According to this view, old religious are replaced constantly by
new ones, ensuring that the human race is constantly religious.
Secularisation refers to the decline of religious influence in both public and private life. It it believed
by many sociologists that modern society is becoming less religious, and that religion has less
influence on society than in the past 100 years. Sociologists such as Max Weber and Steve Bruce
argue that secularisation is real in society whereas Grace Davie and Rodney Stark and Roger Finke
criticise the thesis and believe that religion still exists in our society
One theorist that believes that society is becoming more secular is Max Weber (1920). Weber coined
the term rationalisation, which refers to scientific and logical thinking replacing religious and
mystical explanations. He argues that as societies modernise, they undergo rationalisation which
consequently leads to the replacement of religious explanations. According to weber, events are no
longer to be explained as the work of supernatural forces, but the scientific workings of nature.
Before rationalisation, events such as the Big Bang and evolution were religiously explained, but
increased scientific understanding has caused a decline in this belief. This has led to society
becoming more secular.
However, Davie argue that while church attendance may have declined, belief in religion has not.
She states that many people still believe in god or hold religious values, they just may not regularly
attend services. She calls this “believing without belonging”. Davie blamed theses changes on people
becoming increasingly reluctant to join and belong to organisations, and the change that religion is
no linger in forced or imposed, but a matter of personal choice. Evidence for this theory is the
continued popularity of religious ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, even among non-
regular churchgoers. Davies arguments can be seen as evidence against secularisation, and disagrees
that society is becoming more secular
The privatisation of religion is an idea proposed by Steve Bruce that religion is increasingly becoming
a personal, private matter rather than being central to public life. Individuals may still hold religious
beliefs but do not actively engage in communal worship. This may be explained through the Kendall
project.
The Kendall project researches secularisation and the attendance of congregational and holistic
domains in the town of Kendall. The project found that traditional churches were loosing support
which holistic religions were growing. Holistic religions refer to something that is “spiritual but not
religious”. An example of this is that was found during the Kendal project was yoga and spirituality
such as crystals and astrology. The Kendal project believed that the growth of the holistic milieu was
due to a turn in our cultural (rise in individualisation) and that traditional religions demand
obedience and duty that doesn’t fit with a modern lifestyle
In 2000, sociologists Rodney Stark and Roger Finke criticised Bruce’s secularisation theory with their
religious market theory. They believed that is isn’t realistic to predict that the world will become
atheistic, as humans always need hope and are naturally religious to deal with hardships. They broke
the human need for religion into three sections, compensatory, the cycle of renewal and religious
competition. Religious compensators refer to when rewards are unobtainable to an individual, but
religion is able to compensate by promising supernatural rewards such as an afterlife. This creates
hope in humans and is a reason to continue. Stark and Finke believed that there is also a cycle of
religious decline, revival and renewal. According to this view, old religious are replaced constantly by
new ones, ensuring that the human race is constantly religious.
