Sociology Secular Society
Find and cut out of a newspaper or magazine etc, evidence to support the idea that we are living in a more secular society. Drawing on evidence from elsewhere, evaluate the claim that religion is of less importance than in the past.
Religion in contemporary society has been, and still is, undergoing rapid change. It is predicted that further secularisation and diversity from religious beliefs and practices will undoubtedly continue to occur. Throughout the world there is no one agreed definition of what religion is comprised of. Our world has, and always will be, guided to a greater or lesser degree by religion. Religion is not just about attending church, but in fact, is something which has influence over many aspects of our lives including education, health and moral awareness. There is no common consensus as to what components together make up the term religion. Religion is explained as “the belief in a god or gods and all the activities connected with such beliefs.” (Collins School Dictionary 1989 Page 591)1
Secularisation denotes the diminishing authority religion has in our everyday lives. It comes about in peaks and troughs depending on the rejuvenation of beliefs at contrasting periods throughout time. As secularisation escalates, the church’s concentration is focused on more worldly matters such as raising awareness on homelessness and the starving. Brian Wilson (1966)2 defines secularisation as “The decline of the influence of religious institutions, thinking and practices upon social life.” Functions which were effected by the church have now been become the duty of the government and also to a lesser degree private businesses. Secularisation follows the spread of rationalisation and industrialisation of society and gives the polity greater power.
There is much evidence to suggest that contemporary society is not as religious as previously perceived. There are various reasonable interpretations available for this decline in church
Religion in contemporary society has been, and still is, undergoing rapid change. It is predicted that further secularisation and diversity from religious beliefs and practices will undoubtedly continue to occur. Throughout the world there is no one agreed definition of what religion is comprised of. Our world has, and always will be, guided to a greater or lesser degree by religion. Religion is not just about attending church, but in fact, is something which has influence over many aspects of our lives including education, health and moral awareness. There is no common consensus as to what components together make up the term religion. Religion is explained as “the belief in a god or gods and all the activities connected with such beliefs.” (Collins School Dictionary 1989 Page 591)1
Secularisation denotes the diminishing authority religion has in our everyday lives. It comes about in peaks and troughs depending on the rejuvenation of beliefs at contrasting periods throughout time. As secularisation escalates, the church’s concentration is focused on more worldly matters such as raising awareness on homelessness and the starving. Brian Wilson (1966)2 defines secularisation as “The decline of the influence of religious institutions, thinking and practices upon social life.” Functions which were effected by the church have now been become the duty of the government and also to a lesser degree private businesses. Secularisation follows the spread of rationalisation and industrialisation of society and gives the polity greater power.
There is much evidence to suggest that contemporary society is not as religious as previously perceived. There are various reasonable interpretations available for this decline in church
References: 1. Brown, K (2001) An Introduction To Sociology Second Edition. Blackwell Publishers Ltd. 2. Collins School Dictionary (1989) Harper Collins. 3. The Times Edition 31.3.05. 4. www.statistics.co.gov.uk 5. www.worldchurcheshandbook.co.uk