15576003
| Question | Answer |
| Q1: What did Wilson find in the USA in 1962, and what did he say was the reason for it. ((Secularisation in USA)) | A1: Wilson found that 45% of Americans attended church on Sundays. however, he argued that church going in America was more an expression of the "American way of life" than deeply held religious beliefs. Wilson claimed that America was a secular society, not because people had abandoned the churches, bu because religion there had become superficial. |
| Q2: Bruce - Declining church attendance as a reason fro secularisation in USA. ((Secularisation in USA)) | A2: He looked at increasing secularisation and found 3 sources of evidence to support his idea that america is becoming secular: 1.) Declining church attendance 2.) Secularisation from within 3.) A trend towards religious diversity and relativism. |
| Q3: Bruce - Secularisation from within as a reason for secularisation in the USA. ((Secularisation in USA)) | A3: Bruce argues that the way American religion has adjusted to the modern w within. The emphasis on tradition Christian beliefs and glorifying God has declined and religion in America has become 'psychologised' or turned into a form of therapy. This change has enabled it to fit in with a secular society. In short, American religion has remained popular by becoming less religious. |
| Q4: Bruce - religious diversity as a reason fr secularisation in the USA. ((Secularisation in USA)) | A4: Bruce identifies a trend towards practical relativism among American Christians, involving acceptance of the view that others are entitled to hold beliefs that are different to one's own. This is shown in Lynd and Lynd's (1929) study which found in 1924 that 94% of churchgoing young people agreed with the statement, "Christianity is the one true religion and all people should be converted to it". However by 1977 only 41% agreed. |
| Q5: Criticisms of secularisation theory - outline arguments here - can you add any of your own? ((Secularisation in USA)) | A5: - religion is not declining but simply changing it's form - Secularisation theory is one-sided. It focuses on decline and ignores religious revivals and the growth of new religions. - evidence of falling church attendance ignores people who who believe but don't go to church. - Religion may have decline in Europe but not globally. - The past was not a 'golden age' of faith from which we have declined, and the future will not be an age of atheism. |
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