SO1506 Introduction to Sociology 2 Prof. David Inglis.
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Transcript of SO1506 Introduction to Sociology 2 Prof. David Inglis.
SO1506 Introduction to
Sociology 2
Prof. David Inglis
RELIGION IN MODERN BRITAIN
Do we live in a
secular society?- Is Christianity increasingly unimportant and irrelevant?
- What do people believe in?
- What might be replacing Christianity?
- Is this society WHOLLY secular, or not?
Can’t cover everything
Focus on the UK
Relevant to other north-west European countries e.g. Germany, Scandinavia
Different situations in other parts of the world (e.g. USA)
The Secular Society?
1) What is ‘religion’?
2) What is ‘secularisation’?
3) Religion in the medieval world
4) Challenges to the Catholic Church
5) Measuring secularisation
WHAT IS ‘RELIGION’?
“a social institution involving
beliefs and practices based
upon a conception of the sacred”
(Macionis and Plummer)
SACRED versus PROFANE(Spiritual / special versus
common & everyday)
WHAT IS ‘SECULARISATION’?
“the historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the
sacred”(Macionis and Plummer)
Religion less important in people’s lives:
1) religious ideas- 2) religious authorities
- e.g. priests
Religion in the medieval world
Catholic Church:
1) Ideological Role
2) Political Role
3) Welfare Role
Challenges to the Catholic Church
1) Rise of Protestantism
- 16th century
- Northern Europe
- New ways of worshipping
- Monopoly on belief destroyed
Challenges to the Catholic Church II
2) The rise of science- Faith versus tests &
experiments
- God versus Nature
- Culture of rational thought
- Culture of scepticism
Mid-19th century:
Charles Darwin
Man created by God OR
Man evolved from apes
Religion only one way of thinking
New ways of explaining the world
Challenges to the Catholic Church III
3) The rise of capitalism
- revolutionises society
- the search for profits
- money is everything
- money replaces GodKarl Marx
MEASURING SECULARISATIONDecline in:
1) Influence in society of religious institutions
2) Number of people involved with churches (membership / attendance / personnel)
3) Popularity & impact of religious beliefs
1) Influence of religious institutions
a) From Church to Churches- competition for influence - ‘free market’ in beliefs
b) Religion and politics separate- the State becomes secular
c) Religion and welfare separate- State takes over welfare roles
Church membershipChurch of England:
1900: 13.5% of English people
are members
1990: 3.9 %
2) Number of people involved with churches
Figures from Steve Bruce, “Religion in Modern Britain”
Number of people involved with churches II
Church attendance
All Christian churches in England & Wales:
1851: 50% of adults attend at least once a week
1990: less than 10%
Number of people involved with churches III
Personnel
Church of England:
1900: 20,000 priests
1984 10,000 priests
3) Popularity and impact of religious beliefs
Much less important than 100 years ago?
Important events in life:1990: 1 in 3 English couples
married in Church
1993: 30% of children born in England baptised by Church of England
Individual’s beliefs: religiosity
Around 75% of people in UK believe in some sort of supernatural power
Only about 4% are atheists
Popularity and impact of religious beliefs II