3D Challenges from secularisation

Question 1

What percentage of primary and secondary schools in the UK have a Christian affiliation?

Answer 1

• 30% in some regions

Question 2

How many bishops sit in the House of Lords?

Answer 2

• 26

Question 3

According to a 2011 census, what percentage of the population is affiliated with Christianity? And how many report attending weekly religious services?

Answer 3

• 54%

* Only 15%

Question 4

What is the estimated overall church attendance? What is the estimated Church of England attendance?

Answer 4

• 5%

* Less than 2%

Question 5

According to a 2000 ORB survey, how many people claimed to be a spiritual person? How many claimed to be a religious person?

Answer 5

• 31%

* 27%

Question 6

What percentage of Church of England births were baptised in 1950 and 2011?

Answer 6

• 1950: 67%

* 2011: 12%

Question 7

What percentage of marriages were in churches in 1957 and 2000?

Answer 7

• 1957: 72%

* 2000: 36.3%

Question 8

While religious funerals are common, what do many people have instead?

Answer 8

• A ‘celebration of life’

Question 9

What is the general view of politicians towards religion?

Answer 9

• Often silent

Question 10

Dawkins’ ‘The God Delusion’ (2006), advancing atheism and science over religion, was a national bestseller. For how many consecutive weeks was it on the New York Times bestseller list?

Answer 10

• 51

Question 11

It is relatively rare for someone to die without what?

Answer 11

• Some form of religious service

Question 12

What is happening to the numbers at cathedrals amongst worshippers, pilgrims, tourists and visitors?

Answer 12

• It is growing

Question 13

Give four examples of professions that often have chaplains.

Answer 13

• Health care
• Prison
• Armed forces
• Higher education

Question 14

What was the percentage difference between the 2001 and 2011 Census for England and Wales regarding the number who stated ‘no religion’ and ‘Christian’?

Answer 14

• No religion: 2001 - 15%; 2011 - 25%

* Christian: 2001 - 72%; 2011 - 59%

Question 15

Which two movements are more widely presented in schools?

Answer 15

• Atheism

* Humanism

Question 16

Give three examples of the increase in what one can do on Sunday.

Answer 16

• Inc. participation in work, shopping, sport

Question 17

What are many churches being turned into?

Answer 17

• Commercial spaces

Question 18

What is the issue that many people have with the 2011 Census figure of 25% of people stating ‘no religion’?

Answer 18

• Many believe it underestimates the true number ∵ the question led ppl in the direction of giving a positive answer:
- ‘What is your religion?’ seemingly assumes ppl had one

Question 19

According to a 2013 British Social Attitudes Survey, which asked ‘Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?’, what percentage answered ‘No’? What was the figure in 1983?

Answer 19

• 2013: 50.6%

* 1983: 31.4%

Question 20

According to the research of sociologist Linda Woodhead, what percentage of 18-24 and 60+ year olds represented those citing ‘no religion’? What do these figures suggest?

Answer 20

• 18-24: 60%
• 60+: 34%
• ‘No religion’ = expanding as C.ty = diminshing

Question 21

What binds the ‘no religion’ group together?

Answer 21

• Not hostility to religion, but simply not being part of a r. community

Question 22

What is a faith school?

Answer 22

• A school ass. w/ a r. trad.

Question 23

What religion are most faith schools in the UK associated with?

Answer 23

• C.ty

Question 24

In faith schools, often the governors rather than the Local Authority are responsible for the school’s admission policy/appointing staff. What are the issues with this? What have many faith schools consequently done?

Answer 24

• Issues:
- There may be a preference for hiring teachers who adhere to the school’s religion
- Might prioritise students affiliated with the r.
- Many families have attended c.ch simply to get a place
• Actions of many faith schools:
- Removed any faith criteria from the admissions policy

Question 25

What are some advantages of faith schools?

Answer 25

* R. grounding in education - some parents want this * Tend to be among the best-performing state schools * Diversity/choice to the educational landscape * Values/ethics of the r. trad. represent inclusivity, tolerance, justice, love

Question 26

What are some objections to faith schools?

Answer 26

• British Humanist Association actively campaigns against faith schools ∵ believe that pub. funds should not be used to promote r. They give the following objections: - The teaching of r.e. in faith schools ≠ specifically inspected by Ofsted - R. education aims to instruct children in doctrine/practices rather than a more objective approach - R.e. in faith schools does not have to cover all r.s - "almost certainly fails to give a fair account of non-religious views." - Ethical issues e.g abortion/assisted suicide might be approached from an exclusively r. standpoint - Some faith schools have taught creationism/intelligent design as scientific theories - PSHE can be homophobic/gender discriminatory

Question 27

As part of a study conducted by Linda Woodhead, people were asked "Why have you chosen/would you choose a faith school?"; what percentage answered 'academic standards' and what percentage answered 'transmission of belief about God'?

Answer 27

* Academic standards: 77% | * Transmission of belief about God: 3%

Question 28

Explain the 2015 issue of the Lord's Prayer and Star Wars.

Answer 28

* CofE produced an advert to be shown at beginning of 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' showing ppl in diff. settings saying the Lord's Prayer * Digital Cinema Media banned advert ∵ transgressed its policy of not promoting ads w/ pol. or r. messages - thought it could offend ppl of "differing faiths or no faith" * Outcry from leaders inc. Sadiq Khan, David Cameron * EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission): "There is nothing in law that prevents Christian organisations promoting their faith through adverts." * John Hegarty, advertising executive: "it [CofE] should make its views known [...] from the pulpit [...] But of course, they can't get many people to go to church so they want to take their message to the cinemas." * Does the decision reflect the decreasing influence of C.ty, or does the outcry show widespread support?

Question 29

Explain the 2006 case of Nadia Ewedia.

Answer 29

* BA suspended Ewedia ∵ she refused to cover up her crucifix at work even though hijabs + turbans could be worn * Brought her case to court against gov. for not protecting their rights * Won case * ECHR: "the domestic authorities failed sufficiently to protect the applicant's right to manifest her religion." * BA changed their policies in 2007 * This case, along with the cases of Shirley Chaplin, Gary McFarlane, and Lillian Ladele challenge the notion of the UK as a C.tian country

Question 30

Explain the 2008 case of hotel discrimination.

Answer 30

* Hotel in Cornwall owned by the Bull family refused to let two civil partners stay in a room, based on their C.tian beliefs * Bristol + Supreme Courts held that they had acted unlawfully * Stonewall, homosexual rights group: would have beem more 'Christian' for the Bulls to have fought poverty/disease than pursue the case

Question 31

What percentage of Christians surveyed in 1989 and 2014 disagreed with same-sex marriage?

Answer 31

* 1989: 70-80% | * 2014: Less than 30%

Question 32

What is secularisation?

Answer 32

• The process of society moving away from r. | - Shown in UK by a decline in: attendance, performance of rituals, influence in gov./society

Question 33

Give an ethical example of how science and religion are not always opposed.

Answer 33

• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Question 34

How are many people disillusioned with 'modern science'?

Answer 34

* Famine persists * Global warming * Healthcare/prosperity have not been delivered for all

Question 35

How can the decline in attendance be interpreted in a positive way from the perspective of a believer?

Answer 35

• Movement away from r. as a duty to r. as a choice ∴ those who practise may find their faith more meaningful

Question 36

What could be said about the existence of many Christian initiatives such as the 'Street Pastor' movement (20,000 ppl) who provide help on the streets?

Answer 36

• 'Last gasps' of a dying religion

Question 37

According to sociologists Elisabeth Arweck and James A. Beckford, what six factors should committed secularists consider?

Answer 37

1) Religious vitality - r. = popular for many in diff. forms 2) Nature of modernity - diff. ways of being modern; r. could be a resource for modern living when science does not provide all the solutions 3) De-privatisation - r. has helped to bring about positive social change 4) Globalisation - transnational r. movements 5) Gender - wide range of views of women's roles 6) Rational choice - r. thrives when state regulation (in the form of the est. c.ch) is lower