Assess the view that secularisation Essay

There is no agreed definition of the article secularization- depending on how you define it will determine whether or not it is adventure/exists. Some will surround that secularisation is happening, it never happened, it did happen, or its a western issue. The exclusivist definition sees morality as involving beliefs in both(prenominal) supernatural, supra-human being or forces of or so kind, which would indicate that secularisation is app arnt in fresh night club as church attendance has declined in the UK from 11.1% of the existence in the 1980s, to 6.6% in 2005. The inclusivist definition fathers a less traditional approach, and includes beliefs and activities that closely wouldnt define as apparitional e.g. vernal Age Movements that spirit at spiritual therapies this suggests secularisation isnt happening and that morality is never likely to decline as alternative activities replace traditional roles of righteousness. If secularisation is defined as the exclusiv ist definition, then the UK can be classes as experiencing secularisation. several(predicate) sociologists hasten disparate theories contributing to our understanding of secularisation, for good example Webers rationalization theory. However, opponents of the secularisation debate urge that secularisation is only app bent in modern European societies, as church attendance and phantasmal partlyicipation is in the increase in countries like America. Firstly secern supporting the inspect of secularisation is only in modern European societies includes the decline of religious participation. In the UK, not only has church attendance decreased in recent years church marriages, funerals and early(a) religious ceremonies confine dropped in attendance, as well as an increase in divorce evaluate and premarital children (50% of all pargonnts) which suggests a decline in moral beliefs.Bruce suggests that the increase in scientific explanations and the application of technology in mo dern edict has undermined the traditional religious beliefs. However, this decline in religious participation does not collapse to the whole of the world. According to the 2004 Home Office Citizenship survey, minority ethnic groups are generally much religious than Whites, as they rank theology as second or third most important indicant of identity- compared to White British who ranked it 10th. Bellah goes against the situation that secularisation is only a western European problem and argues that those who attend church in othercountries might not be going for religious reasons e.g to get into authentic schools- which Davie refers to as belonging without believing.Wilson agrees that secularisation is taking place, and argues that churches of modern European societies has recently become disengaged churches no longer plays a part in important aspects of social life e.g. education, health care, morality or politics, and consequently no longer has influence over the new gene ration. However in many an(prenominal) countries morality still plays a big part in society, as many countries base their culture on religion and many ethnical events are still based on traditional religion- this supports the view that secularisation is only a feature of modern European societies. Although, others argue that the decrease in traditional religion influence is not evidence for secularisation, as in modern society religion has resacularised people are turning from traditional beliefs into spiritual.For example the increase in diversity of New Age Religions e.g. yoga and meditation have an increasing participation rate. Postmodernists argue that religion is not declining its just being reorientated, which gives individuals a chance to pick n mix aspects of society to suit them. Wilsons theory of disengagement of churches could also be criticised as many churches still have connections to modern day society, for example many charities are linked with the church, the Que en is the head of state, and there are 26 Bishops in the house of Lords. This means that secularisation is not real a feature of modern European society as it is misinterpreted referable to the recent change in focus of religion which is moving forward from traditional beliefs and taking on spiritual values. Weber believes that the increasing rationalisation of the world has drained the magic and mystery out of religious slipway of thinking.Science has provided the basis for the be on in technology that gives humans the advocator to control nature and undermine the religious worldview that events can be explained by using the will of God. Humans therefore have lost the business leader to experience a sense of sacredness and mystery in life. This disenchantment cannot apply in undeveloped, 3rd world countries as this scientific belief and advance in technology hasnt reached there, and many countries manage to combine experience and religion. Religion in places of suffering is still justified by these societies as being a plan made by God, and therefore religion acts as a glimpse of hope. Therefore secularisation is only a feature of modernsociety, especially in developed counties like European societies.A growth in fundamentalism has returned in many countries, where pockets of the world take religious actually seriously and take the literal meaning of religious texts and associated behaviour- so secularisation is a feature of only European societies. Although some would argue that this is only reinserted due to strong socialisation into being very religious (especially through family and education), so being religion is a cultural influence rather than a personal choice/belief. Some sociologists argue that religion has undergone Disneyfication Lyon suggests post modern society has trivialised religion in ordinance to appeal to the modern society by promoting fun and amusement. In piece for religion to survive in the modern European societies, it has to market itself (like a spiritual supermarket).However this does not necessarily count as secularisation, as others argue that this marketing of religion gives a wider choice of religion which technically creates more religion- post modernists argue that disneyfication enhances religion. However, religious pluralism sees power in society spread among a wide variety of interest groups and individuals, which no single one having a monopoly of truth. People in modern society have a huge choice of religion- and can be a part of more than one religious institution. This means it is very hard to step participation due to the vast amount of religions and therefore secularisation has been misjudged in modern European society. Marxists and Feminists would go against this view as they believe religion is still playing its role in creating conflict between different social classes, and therefore secularisation cannot be taking place.To conclude, the view that secularisation has been a feat ure of modern European societies is debated by many sociologists, and these theories and contributions are useful in explaining why some countries are experiencing secularisation more than others. It recognises current issues like disenchantment, disneyfication and the new insights of scientific explanations. However it is heavily criticised by other sociologists for ignoring important aspects of society, like religious pluralism and many studies are out-of-date so no longer apply tp modern societies. Feminists would argue that religion still plays its role in exploiting women, and Functionalists believe religion is still playacting as social glue. Postmodernists also disagree and believe that religion is more diverse inmodern society so individuals can have more choice in what they believe.