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Candidates will consider whether modern societies have experienced a gradual process of secularisation, giving an opportunity to reflect on the key concept of Social change and development. Candidates will explore the links between feminist theory and the analysis of religion, linking to the key concepts of Socialisation, culture and identity, and Power, control and resistance. They will consider different religious movements and the influence they exercise over their followers. The analysis of fundamentalist religious movements also provides a context for applying the key concept of Inequality and Opportunity.
The secularisation thesis.
Evidence for a decline in religious belief.
Discussions about whether rationalisation is leading to a decline in religious belief.
Debates about whether religion has lost its social significance.
Secularisation refers to the ways in which religious influence has declined in contemporary societies. While this concept may appear straightforward to test by comparing past levels of belief, behaviour and commitment (known as religiosity) with present ones, it is complicated by two fundamental problems:
1. Definitional Issues
The way 'religion' is defined significantly affects research findings. Inclusive definitions are less likely to find evidence of decline because they include behaviours such as involvement in NAMs (New Age Movements) that are not categorised as 'religious' by exclusive definitions.
2. Temporal Comparison Problems
The point at which comparisons are made is also significant. The further back in time we go, the more likely it is that we will find high levels of religious behaviour. Within this general debate, there is no real agreement about at what point 'in the past' can be chosen for comparative purposes.
Key Insight: The secularisation debate is fundamentally shaped by how researchers define religion and which historical period they use as their baseline for comparison.
Evidence for religious decline is divided into three main areas, each providing different perspectives on the extent and nature of secularisation:
Institutional decline involves ideas such as:
Steve Bruce (2001) provides compelling statistical evidence:
Practical decline involves a fall in religious engagement and participation. The evidence from the UK demonstrates significant changes:
UK Faith Survey Data:
| Measure | 1930 | 2010 | 2013 | Forecast 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church membership (millions) | 10.6 | 5.5 | - | - |
| Percentage of population | 30% | 11.2% | 10.3% | 8.4% |
| England specifically | - | - | - | 4.3% |
| Church attendance | 11.8% | 5.0% | - | - |
2014 Global Survey findings for the UK:
Bruce (2001) argues there is a general decline in religious beliefs that 'lags behind' the decline in practice. This suggests that people stop attending religious services before they abandon religious beliefs entirely.
Wilson (1982) argued that society has moved from magical/religious understandings to secular, scientific explanations. This represents a fundamental shift in how people interpret and understand the world around them.
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