CHANGING religion

Question 1

points

Answer 1

believing without belonging
sheilaism
the kendal project
spiritual shopping

Question 2

believing without belonging

Answer 2

DAVIE- religion not declining, just taking different, more privatised form
church attendance has declined, attendance is more of a personal choice as opposed to obligation
as a result, believing without belonging where ppl have religious views but dont attend
eg can practice at home through london internet church, no need to physically be there
also rise in vicarious religion-small number of professional clergy practice on behalf of much larger group of people who experience it second hand at baptisms/weddings etc
DAVIE argues religious organisations are still in society, ppl use religion as spiritual health service, similar to NHS where people only rely on when they need it

Question 3

Kendal project

Answer 3

HEELAS AND WOODHEAD investigated whether trad religion declined, if so how far growth of 2 groups compensates for this
congregational domain of trad and evangelical christianity
and holistic milieu of spirituality and NAMs, using crystals, new forms of religion eg tree hugging retreats, essential oils etc
findings from a typical week in kendal:
7.9% attended church (decrease)
1.6% activities of HM (increase)
evangelical churches held their own and faired particularly well
although few participated in HM, it was growing

Question 4

sheilaism and individualised religion

Answer 4

to illustrate idea of individual religion, BELLAH proposed sheilaism
response from sheila, interviewed on her beliefs:
“my faith carried me a long way. Its sheilaism. Just my own little voice, carried me a long way”
shows a pick and mix religious identity, construct identity on what we consume, no longer stick to trad religion
BELLAH- if everyone took this view, their would be 333 mil religions in America alone

Question 5

Spiritual shopping

Answer 5

HERVIEU-LEGER : institutional religion
cultural amnesia- parents no longer teaching children about religion and le children decide what to believe
greater social equality- church no longer has power to impose religion on ppl from above, gov and church separated, as a result lost its power
individual consumerism replaced collective tradition, ppl now have choice as consumers becoming spiritual shoppers
religion now individualised, develop DIY beliefs to give meanig to out lives and fit in with interests and ambitions
due to focus on individual choice, HERVIEU LEGER argues 2 new religions emerging:
pilgrims- follow individual path for self discovery
converts- join groups offering strong sense of belonging
pick and mix identity