Secularisation DCT Flashcards
(50 cards)
What is secularisation?
The process by which religion plays a smaller role in society.
What is theocracy/fundamentalism?
The ultra-conservative view that a religion should have total political power.
What is secularism?
The view that religion and government should be separate.
What is militant atheism or anti-theism?
The view that religion is harmful even as a private belief and should face social and cultural pressure.
How did Freud describe religious belief?
As psychological wish fulfilment caused by fear of chaos and adult life.
What did Freud mean by religion as ‘unconscious wish fulfilment’?
Religion provides comfort from fear of life’s unpredictability.
How did Freud think religion should be replaced?
By scientific understanding for order and predictability.
What was Freud’s view on religion’s origins?
He believed religious doctrines came from the ‘ignorant childhood days of the human race’.
How does Dawkins view religious belief?
As irrational and based on wishful thinking.
Why does Dawkins compare religion to fairy tales?
Because both are unscientific and childish ways to explain reality.
How does McGrath respond to Freud and Dawkins?
He argues that adults convert to religion based on rational arguments.
Why does McGrath think the Santa Claus analogy is flawed?
Because no adults believe in Santa Claus, but many rational adults believe in God.
What does Dawkins say about faith and evidence?
He argues faith is belief without or even despite evidence.
How does Dawkins interpret the story of doubting Thomas?
As promoting belief without evidence.
What is McGrath’s defence of religious rationality?
He cites Aquinas’ 5 ways as showing logical reasons for belief.
What is the ‘God of the gaps’ argument?
It claims religion is based on filling in gaps in scientific knowledge.
How does Dawkins view ‘God of the gaps’?
As irrational and worshipping ignorance.
What is McGrath’s response to ‘God of the gaps’?
He agrees it’s flawed and outdated, and cites Swinburne’s arguments.
How does Swinburne respond to scientific limits?
Science tells us the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’ or purpose.
What does Dawkins say about questions of purpose?
They are invalid like asking the color of jealousy.
What is militant atheism?
The belief that society would be better without religion even privately.
What is Hitchens’ critique of religion?
That it seeks to convert others and threatens peaceful communities.
What does McGrath say about militant atheism?
He claims it unfairly targets all religious people.
How does Sam Harris view moderate religion?
As dangerous for legitimising faith and enabling extremism.
