decline of religious institutions

Question 1

briefly list the arguments for the decline of religious institutions

Answer 1

-religious organisations have disengaged from society
-increasing alternative sources of info
-disneyization of religious institutions

Question 2

briefly list the reasons against the decline of religious institutions

Answer 2

-institutional power of churches remains
-strengthening of religious institutions
-religious institutions remain very important in minority ethnic communities

Question 3

(FOR)
explain how religious organisations have disengaged from society

Answer 3

-parsons saw this as a process of structural differentiation where new organisations take over functions, eg the NHS

Question 4

(FOR)
explain what is meant by alternative sources of info

Answer 4

-eliminated the monopoly of knowledge RI’s would claim
-Halman + Draulans - the more globalised society became, the less religious

Question 5

(FOR)
explain what is meant by the disneyization of religious institutions

Answer 5

-Bryman 2004 - the transformation into a diluted version
-Lyon - harvest day crusade at disneyland california is a way of bringing ‘Gods kingdom’ to the magic kingdom

Question 6

(AGAINST)
explain what is meant by ‘the institutional power of churches remains’

Answer 6

-CofE is the established church
-CofE bishops have seats in the house of lords
-CofE is extremely wealthy and is one of the largest property owners in the UK

Question 7

(AGAINST)
explain what is meant by the strengthening of religious institutions

Answer 7

-structural differentiation may strengthen the church as it can focus on purely spiritual matters and religious influence

Question 8

(AGAINST)
explain what is meant by religious institutions remaining important in ethnic minority communities

Answer 8

-mosques, temples and synagogues are important symbols of identity
-Bruce - religion can act as a means of cultural transition and cultural defence