Challenge of secularism

Question 1

Steve Bruce

Answer 1

• Religious belonging has drained away, along with religious belief
• More than ever people declare themselves as having no beliefs religiously

Question 2

Pauls Heelas and Linda Woodhead

Answer 2

• There has been a growth in interest in alternative spiritualities
• Spiritual practices like mindfulness, for example, are based on Buddhist techniques

Question 3

Procedural secularism

Answer 3

• The state shouldn’t prioritise any religion, but treat them in an equal way to other institutions
• Allows authority is personal beliefs as well as authority in the state

Question 4

La Laicite

Answer 4

Principle in French law which separates the state from religions

Question 5

Programmatic secularism

Answer 5

All religious views and practices should be excluded from public institutions

Question 6

Alastair Campbell

Answer 6

Intervened to prevent Tony Blair answering a question about Christianity, saying “we don’t do God”

Question 7

Auguste Comte

Answer 7

Religion will give way to secular positivism

Question 8

Secular positivism

Answer 8

Scientific reason will take over from religion and rid society of false views of the world

Question 9

Hell houses

Answer 9

Children thought about the terrors of hell in the us and taught how to avoid it

Question 10

Philomena Lee

Answer 10

• Pregnant teen sent by parents to a convent
• Her child taken and sold by nuns, told her mother had died

Question 11

Charles Taylor

Answer 11

Secularism breaks down communal aspects of society and causes minority cultures to vanish

Question 12

Terry Eagleton

Answer 12

• Yes, religion has caused harm
• However, this is far outweighed by the massive cultural contributions it has made
• Religion captures the highest spiritual aspects of human experience and secularism can’t replace religion’s advantages

Question 13

Secular humanism

Answer 13

Humans can live good, noble lives without needing religion

Question 14

US first amendment establishment clause

Answer 14

Freedom of religion allowed, congress not allowed to establish a state religion

Question 15

Theocracy

Answer 15

Belief that religion should have a role in public life and the governing of society

Question 16

Lee vs Ashers

Answer 16

• Ashers baking co refuses to put a message promoting gay marriage on a cake because of religion
• Final judgement made in Ashers’ Baking Co’s favour, since the court said there was no discrimination that took place against Lee

Question 17

Eweida vs the UK

Answer 17

• British airways policy says religious jewellery should be worn out of sight under clothes
• Courts ruled in favour of BA, and after being taken to European courts, they ruled against the UK

Question 18

NHS

Answer 18

Doctors allowed to opt out of certain procedures through conscience

Question 19

Atheist Bus Campaign

Answer 19

‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’ put on London buses

Question 20

James Conroy

Answer 20

Religious schools have an important role in liberal, democratic state by allowing the parents to choose and avoiding any single influence on education

Question 21

Heritage argument

Answer 21

Before the government was willing to fund education for all, the Church of England established schools, meaning taking CofE schools from the Church would technically be robbery

Question 22

Roman Williams

Answer 22

We should follow procedural secularism to avoid certain public voices being labelled as more important than others