Desacralisation and Rationalisation (Secularisation) - Beliefs

Question 1

What does Weber suggest to support secularisation?

Answer 1

• There is a process of demystification and disenchantment of the world.
• World is becoming dominated by rational ideas

Question 2

What does Wilson suggest to support secularisation?

Answer 2

Society is becoming organised rationally; people are in contact with these ideas through work and daily life. Knowledge becomes based on reason and not faith

Question 3

What does Bruce suggest to support secularisation?

Answer 3

• Scientific discoveries have explained lots of events e.g. earthquakes so religious explanations are less credible
• People have begun to turn to science not religion for answers e.g. health problems

Question 4

How do scientific beliefs not necessarily dominate?

Answer 4

• People still prefer religious explanations for random events e.g. loss of a loved one
• People still believe in fate or luck
• Religion still helps people cope with stress
• Growth of NRMs and NAMs means there is still an important place in life for non-rational ideas
• Increase in general distrust of science e.g. GM crops and failure to cure diseases