Secularisation Flashcards
What is secularisation, and who are its main thinkers?
Secularisation is the decline in religious beliefs and practices and the reduced influence of religious institutions in public life, studied by scholars like Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Peter Berger, and Charles Taylor.
What is Max Weber’s theory on secularisation?
Weber focuses on the transition from a magical/religious worldview to a rational, scientific one, arguing that the rise of capitalism, bureaucracy, and scientific inquiry displaces traditional religious beliefs, leading to a decline in religion’s social significance.
How does Emile Durkheim view religion’s role in society?
Durkheim views religion as key to social cohesion[glue], especially in pre-modern societies, but notes that in modern societies, other institutions take over social cohesion functions, leading to the church’s diminished power in public life.
How did Peter Berger’s views on secularisation evolve?
Berger originally supported the secularisation thesis [the belief that modernity leads to a decline in religious influence] but later revised it to include the impact of religious pluralism [multiple belief systems co-existing in society], leading to a variety of religious options, indicating modernity leads to pluralisation of beliefs rather than outright secularisation.
What is Charles Taylor’s contribution to the secularisation debate?
Taylor argues against the idea that secularisation simply removes religious elements from culture, introducing “the immanent frame” concept—a self-sufficient social space independent of divine elements.
What are the collective insights from secularisation theories?
The theories collectively illustrate the rationalisation of society (Weber), the evolving social function of religion (Durkheim), how pluralism affects religious belief (Berger), and the complexities of imagining the sacred in modern times (Taylor).
What is the current state of the secularisation debate?
The secularisation debate continues to evolve, reflecting changes in religious landscapes. The theories of Weber, Durkheim, Berger, and Taylor provide vital perspectives for understanding the relationship between modernity and religion.
What is the concept of social dynamism in the context of secularisation?
Social dynamism[change] refers to how pluralistic societies diminish the influence of a single religious belief system, exemplified by the growing religious diversity in the U.S., as discussed by Charles Taylor.
What does “secularisation from within” refer to, and who is a key sociologist associated with this concept?
“Secularisation from within” refers to changes inside religious institutions to align with societal norms, such as the ordination of the first openly gay bishop in the U.S. Episcopal Church. Key sociologist associated with this concept is Grace Davie.
What are the key points to remember about secularisation?
Secularisation is a complex phenomenon that is not uniform or straightforward but varies across societies. The ‘Six Measures of Secularisation’ provide a framework to understand the process of secularisation.
How does secularisation affect social cohesion and community life?
Emile Durkheim suggests that religious rituals foster social cohesion. Robert Putnam observes that secularisation leads to reduced ‘social capital’ and community support, potentially impacting social cohesion and mental health negatively.
What is the impact of secularisation on ethics and morality?
Charles Taylor discusses the move from religious to secular morality, leading to moral relativism [no absolute right/wrong actions] and complexities in ethical decision-making, reflecting broader societal shifts towards secular values.
What are the political implications of secularisation?
Max Weber’s ‘disenchantment’ theory suggests secularisation leads to bureaucracy and potential depersonalisation in governance; it also influences debates over religion’s role in public life.
How does secularisation impact culture and intellectual life?
Peter Berger notes that secularisation results in the pluralisation of worldviews, stimulating intellectual diversity but also causing cultural splits.
What are the economic effects of secularisation according to Max Weber?
Max Weber discusses the shift from religiously influenced economic development to rational planning and meritocracy [getting something based on one’s ability], with potential downsides like increased materialism [concern over money/ things] and environmental concerns.
How does secularisation influence identity and existential questions?
Secularisation places responsibility on individuals to make meaning of their own lives, leading to liberating but sometimes challenging experiences, as highlighted in Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of “liquid modernity.”
What are the global implications and potential conflicts related to secularisation?
Secularisation can lead to increased religious extremism as a reactionary response, with theorists like Olivier Roy on the ‘privatisation of religion’ and Samuel P. Huntington’s ‘clash of civilisations’ discussing these dynamics.
What are the contrasting perspectives on the value of secularisation?
While some view secularisation as progress, others see it as a loss of community and ethical clarity. José Casanova’s concept of “de-secularisation,” especially in non-Western societies, challenges the secularisation thesis, adding complexity to the debate.
How does the vagueness of what ‘religion’ is, impact the secularisation debate?
Judith Fox challenges Bryan Wilson’s secularisation thesis, pointing out the difficulty in measuring secularisation accurately due to the loose definition of ‘religion,’ impacting the debate significantly.
What does the critique about the myth of a religious ‘Golden Age’ suggest about secularisation?
Fox questions the belief in a past of higher religiosity, suggesting that the extent of secularisation may be exaggerated, challenging narratives of decline in religious belief.
What are the critiques regarding statistical evidence of secularisation?
Sean Oliver-Dee criticises the use of selective and inaccurate statistics in secularisation studies, overlooking phenomena like the growth of Pentecostalism and the popularity of pilgrimages, which counter the thesis.
How do Stark and Bainbridge’s ‘religious economies’ model challenge the secularisation thesis?
Stark and Bainbridge propose that religion fulfils existential [meaningof life] and salvation needs in a ‘religious economies’ model, suggesting that increased religious diversity can stimulate religious interest, countering secularisation narratives.
How do views on religious pluralism contrast with the secularisation thesis?
Berger and Davie focus on religious pluralism and diversity, with Charles Taylor noting that in secular societies, belief in God is optional but religious desires persist, offering an alternative to secularisation narratives.
How do critics of secularisation respond to the rise of ‘New Atheism’?
Alister McGrath argues that the rise of ‘New Atheism’ does not stop the innate [inbuilt] human yearning for the transcendent, suggesting that secularisation may not fully capture the complexity of religious dynamics.
