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