Secularisation

Question 1

Bruce: Technological WorldView

Answer 1

• argues that the growth of a technological worldview has largely replaced religious explanations of why things happen
• we look at scientific and technological explanations
• this thus leaves little room for religious explanations in everyday life, which only survive in areas where technology is least effective
• Bruce concludes that although scientific explanations do not challenge religion directly, they have greatly reduced the scope for religious explanations =.
• scientific knowledge does not in itself make people into atheists but the worldview it encourages results in people taking religion less seriously.

Question 2

Structural Differentiation Parsons

Answer 2

• defines structural differentiation as a process of specialisation that occurs with the development of industrial society
• separate specialised institutions develop to carry put functions that were previously performed by a single institutions
• sees this as having happened to religion - it dominated pre industrial society, but with industrialisation it has become a smaller and more specialised function.
• even where religion continues to perform functions such as education it must conform to the requirements of the secular state.

Question 3

Structural Differentiation - Disengagement

Answer 3

disengagement - according to P structural differentiation leads to disengagement of religion.
It’s functions are transferred to other institutions such as the state and it becomes disconnected from wider society.

Question 4

Structural Differentiation - Privatisation

Answer 4

Bruce argues that religion has become separated from wider society and lost it’s former functions
- it has become privatised - confined to the private sphere of the home and family
- religious beliefs are now a matter of personal choice and religious institutions have lost much of their influence on wider society.
As a result traditional rituals and symbols have lost meaning