3D: Secularisation

Question 1

Faith school

Answer 1

A school associated with a particular religious tradition

Question 2

Privatisation

Answer 2

The movement from public to private expression of religion. The idea that religion is something to keep to oneself

Question 3

Secular

Answer 3

Not connected with religious/spiritual matters

Question 4

Secularisation

Answer 4

The process of society moving away from religion

Question 5

Secularism

Answer 5

the belief that secularisation is good for society

Question 6

Theocracy

Answer 6

“Rule of God” - belief that state activities should be aligned with religious principles or that religious officials should carry out governance

Question 7

Secularisation thesis

Answer 7

The claim that UK society has become less religious over time

Question 8

According to the England and Wales census, how has Christianity declined?

Answer 8

2001: 72% identified as Christian
2011: 59%
2021: 46%

Question 9

What are the three aspects of secularisation?

Answer 9

1. decline in belief
2. decline in Church attendance
3. decline in cultural influence

Question 10

Do you think Christianity should be prioritised as a subject of study in RE?

Answer 10

No: there should be an equal treatment of learning about every religion in order to create a broader view on belief systems

Question 11

In what way do C of E bishops have a direct influence on UK Law in the House of Lords?

Answer 11

There’s currently 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords. Some argue that we should add leaders from other religions

Question 12

In what way does the BBC have a duty to broadcast religious programming?

Answer 12

Includes Songs of Praise and Thought for the Day

Question 13

How has Church attendance in the Church of England declined?

Answer 13

Dropped from 1.6 million every Sunday to 800,000 over 50 years

Question 14

Evidence to suggest that Britain IS a Christian country

Answer 14

• England and Scotland have established Churches
• King is head of state and supreme governor of C of E
• 26 bishops in House of Lords
• 1/3 of England schools have a Christian character
• BBC has a duty to broadcast religious programming
• Church buildings prominent in every town/village
• Most funerals still happen in churches
• “The most significant event in people’s lives tend to happen in a Church”: Rees
• Cultural Christianity still impacts many
• YouGov: 56% of Brits say Britain is a Christian country
• Major holidays stem from Christianity
• National anthem has religious connotations

Question 15

Evidence to suggest that Britain is NOT a Christian country

Answer 15

• British Social Attitudes survey 2013: 50.6% report to have no religion. 41.7% Christian
• Church attendance is dropping; 1.6m to 800,000 in 50 years for C of E
• Churches have been closed and converted into other buildings
• Woodhead’s research: most parents choose faith schools for academic standards and location, not ethical/religious reasons
• Laws relating to abortion, same sex marriage etc have changed in spite of vocal oppression from religious groups
• BSA 2013 survey: for every convert made by the C of E, they lose 12 members
• Growth in number of humanist funerals and humanists
• 60% of marriages in UK are civil ceremonies, not religious
• Christianity is now a minority in the UK: only 46% of population. outnumbered by those with no religion

Question 16

What did Linda Woodhead conclude from her research?

Answer 16

• Civil marriages have become the most normal form of marriage after being introduced in 1836
• Only 30% of marriages in England and Wales are conducted according to religious rites
• Those identifying as having no religion: 43% in 2003 to 50% in 2013

Question 17

What did Woodhouse’s research conclude about attendance in the Church of England?

Answer 17

• Baptisms make up 12% of all live births
• Weddings make up about 20% of all weddings
• Funerals make up about 33% of all funerals
• The average Sunday service attendance makes up about 1.5% of the whole population

Question 18

Why is there a rise in people identifying as having ‘no religion’?

Answer 18

• younger people are less likely to be religious because of their rejection of religious commitments of their parents
• factors such as increased wealth and better access to education has led to the weakening of religious subcultures and has disrupted the traditional hierarchy of religious authority

Question 19

What are ‘nones’?

Answer 19

People who don’t identity with a religious but may still have some sort of faith/belief in something

Question 20

Why was the 2015 ‘Just Pray’ advert banned?

Answer 20

Because it risked upsetting or offending audiences: the DCM had a policy of not allowing political or religious advertising

Question 21

How has the Christian belief of prayer conflicted with UK law?

Answer 21

• 2015 Cinema ban of Just Pray ad - DCM forbids promoting religion. The Equality and Human Rights Commission clarified the ad wasn’t against any laws
• Caroline Petrie, a Christian nurse suspended from her job for offering to pray for an elderly patients recovery. Accused of failing to demonstrate professional commitment to equality. The patient said they were uncomfortable and asked her to stop promoting her religion

Question 22

How has the Christian belief of wearing religious symbols conflicted with UK law?

Answer 22

• British Airways worker Nadia Ewedia was suspended for not covering up her crucifix at work. UK gov argued that wearing a cross was not a religious requirement like a turban. ECHR supported the right to wear a crucifix where there was no evidence of harm to other. Won her case
• Nurse Shirley Chaplin was told not to wear a crucifix at work because it might be unsafe/spread disease. ECHR supported the right to wear a crucifix where there was no evidence of harm to other. Lost her case

Question 23

How has the Christian belief of attitudes to same sex partnerships conflicted with UK law?

Answer 23

• Gary McFarlane, a marriage counsellor, was dismissed for saying he might object to giving gay couples advice. Lost his case: ECHR said his actions were discriminatory and against equal rights legislation
• Hazelmary and Peter Bull owned a B&V and refused to let a gay couple share a room. Found to have acted unlawfully and were made to pay damages to those they discriminated against
• Asher’s Bakery in Northern Ireland refused to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage; found to have acted unlawfully and were made to pay damages to those they discriminated against

Question 24

Should the law protect religious belief?

Answer 24

No - laws should be secular and impartial; treating all individuals and beliefs equally without special protection for religious belief

Question 25

How many children are educated at faith schools?

Answer 25

1.9 million

Question 26

How many parents said they sent their kids to faith school for faith reasons vs the parents who sent them because of the high standards?

Answer 26

- faith reasons: 3% - standards: 70%

Question 27

What are some pros of faith schools?

Answer 27

- tend to be the best performing UK state schools in terms of academics - perform better on average than non faith schools - they allow diversity and freedom of choice in education - they have to deliver the same curriculum as non-faith schools (exception of RE, can be delivered in line with schools religious tradition) - the value and ethos of religious schools encourage inclusivity, tolerance, love and justice

Question 28

What are some cons of faith schools?

Answer 28

- Humanists UK argue faith schools encourage a divided society, not inclusive - they create a segregated future - they might ignore the aims of inclusive RE: some do not get good coverage of other religions and non religious worldviews - some have taught creationism and intelligent design as scientific theories (against the National curriculum) - PSHE in faith schools can be seen as not inclusive if it reflects traditional attitudes toward issues of sexuality and gender etc - Woodhead’s research shows most parents choose faith schools for academic standards (77%) and location (58%)

Question 29

What evidence is there to support the secularisation thesis?

Answer 29

- increase in those citing ‘no religion’ (15% in 2001, 25% in 2011, 37% in 2021) - decrease in those associating with Christianity (72% in 2001, 59% in 2011, 46% in 2021) - Church of England reports around 20 church closures a year

Question 30

What evidence challenges the secularisation thesis?

Answer 30

- 47% of 18-34 year olds declare themselves religious: 67% of those pray regularly - a rise of Evangelical in the Church of England (26% in 1989 and 34% by 2005) - London Diocese of the Church of England has grown by 70% since 1990

Question 31

Why might growing secularisation in the UK mean that reverse mission is increasingly important?

Answer 31

- highlights the need for religious organisation to adapt and reach out to the changing demographics of the population - however likely won’t be successful because it has been made clear from previous attempts that the British public aren’t interested

Question 32

Reasons involving Church attendance to suggest the UK is still a Christian country

Answer 32

- Christianity is the most attended religion in the UK - Cathedral worship is on the rise - People turn to churches at a time of transition: baptism, marriages, funerals

Question 33

Reasons involving Church attendance to suggest the UK is no longer a Christian country

Answer 33

- Estimates place Christian attendance at only 5%, the Church of England is under 2% - Many empty churches are for sale - BSA 2013 Survey indicated 50.6% as having no religion - Number of marriages taking place in churches in England and Wales halved between 1950 and 2000 (72% to 36%)

Question 34

Reasons involving personal belief to suggest the UK is still a Christian country

Answer 34

- Many still believe in God - 2016 YouGov poll says 48% believe in God/a spiritual power

Question 35

Reasons involving personal belief to suggest the UK is no longer a Christian country

Answer 35

- 2016 YouGov survey: ‘God’ might not mean the Christina god. Non belief God was 38% in the polls, appears to be growing - Number of those identifying with ‘no religion’ is growing

Question 36

Reasons involving public life to suggest the UK is still a Christian country

Answer 36

- This is a Christian nation with the King as head of the state Church and Bishops in the House of Lords - TV, cinema and literature are permeates with a Christian presence and themes

Question 37

Evidence to suggest Christian response to the challenge of secularisation IS effective

Answer 37

- An upsurge in commitment even though attendance in down. Fewer people attend, but they do so with more conviction - Church has a visible role in fighting for social justice - Several examples of Christianity as progressive and modern: eg Street Pastors movement - Arweck and Beckford say religion contributes to be popular in different forms eg Growth of Charismatic Movement in UK - ‘Nones’ include those who believe in God but not an organised religion - Church has attempted to promote itself publicly eg Just Pray as - Churches are increasingly working positively with those of different faiths/no faith eg Love your neighbour campaign in Birmingham (devised by a Humanist and financed by C of E) - Woodhead: “Britain has not become a secular country”

Question 38

Evidence to suggest Christian response to the challenge of secularisation IS NOT effective

Answer 38

- these responses are the ‘last gasps’ of a dying religion - Church continues to decline - Significant increase of ‘nones’ - Growth in number of visitors to cathedrals could be down to tourists/pilgrims from other countries - Humanists UK say many religious social programs are discriminatory/attempts to evangelise - Social needs that used to be met by the church are being met elsewhere eg humanist weddings and social apps that allow people to meet - More people are choosing weddings and funerals away from the church - Woodhead: “Britain emerges as religious and secular” - Bruce: “80% showing no interest in any form of religion, it seems entirely sensible to describe the UK as a largely secular country”