...In recent years some sociologists have claimed that the west is becoming more secular. Secularisation is where religious belief, practiced and institutions loose social significance. There has been evidence to suggest that church attendance and the number of baptisms and church weddings are declining. However some sociologists reject secularisation theory and argue that religion is simply changing, rather than declining. They believe it is changing as a result of changes in wider society, such as, greater individualism and consumerism, or a shift from modern to late modern or postmodern society. Davie is one of these sociologists; in her view religion is taking a different, more privatised form. She explains this by giving the example of that people no longer go to church because they feel they have to or because it is respectable to do so. She says that although churchgoing has declined it is simply because attendance is now a matter of personal choice rather than the obligation it used to be. As a result there is believing without belonging, where by people hold religious beliefs but don’t go to church. Therefore the decline of traditional religion is matched by the growth of the new form of religion. Davie also notes a trend towards vicarious religion, whereby people are experiencing religion second hand. This is a typical pattern in Britain and northern Europe. In these societies people still use the church for rites of passage, rituals that make a change of status such...
Words: 1602 - Pages: 7
...Assess the view that religious beliefs and practices are changing to reflect a new era of diversity and choice. (33 marks) Some sociologists reject the secularisations theory, they are beginning to say that instead of religion declining, it is changing, in terms of changing to reflect a new era of diversity and choice. Sociologists such as Davie argue that religion isn't declining but the need to publicise it is reducing, religion is taking a more privatised form. This can explain the decline in churchgoers; they no longer feel like they have to go to church to be religious, now attending church is a matter of choice rather than society frowning upon those who chose not to go. This has brought around ‘believing without belonging’, thus the decline of traditional religion is matched by the growth of a new form of it. Proving that modern society is not becoming increasing secular but forming new religions through choice and diversity. However, Voas and Crockett reject the claims Davie puts forward, explaining that if her thesis was to be true the British Social Attitudes survey from 1983 to 200 would show that belief in God is increasing, although it shows that not only is church attendance declining but also peoples belief in God. If Davie were right with new religions forming the surveys would've shown higher levels of belief. Bruce also interjects the view that if those who are religious are not willing to invest time into attending church, this must reflect the declining...
Words: 1127 - Pages: 5
...Criminal Acts and Choices Criminal Acts and Choices Choice Theory gives us an explanation of motivation which is different from what many people have been taught. An aspect of Choice Theory is the belief that we are internally, not externally motivated. Other theories suggest that certain events that happened in life cause people to behave in certain ways; Choice Theory teaches that these events do not make people do anything. Peoples behaviors are internally developed feelings of what is most important and satisfying to them. People have ideas of how they would like things to be. People want to be connected with other people and achieve the same things that their neighbor does. Choice theory is exactly what it says, people have to make a choice on their own as the how they will behave and what standards they will hold themselves to. No amount of law can make a person do something that they do not want to do each individual has to make that choice for themselves. Southern California psychiatrist William Glasser, the author of Reality Therapy, believes that almost all human misery is caused by people trying to control others. He says, “the only behavior we can control is our own; by the same token, no one can make us do anything we don't want to. It's only when we give up spending our energy trying to force others to conform to our ideas or to keep them from doing the same to us that we are able to live the way we want to.”( William Glasser) Choice theory relates...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
...Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life People love to argue. Not in a screaming at each other because the peanut butter lid was left off again kind of way, but with intentions of being progressive. With a little bit of structure to an argument, it ends up being more of a debate and is usually enjoyable, especially if you win. Since people have been debating for so long, and like to do it, you would think that there would be a surefire way to come to a mutual understanding. However, certain topics will be debated until the end of time before there is ever any sort of resolution. When it comes to abortion, seldom is somebody without an opinion; and others could not be more rooted in their beliefs. In order to form an objective opinion it is imperative to understand both sides of a debate and then make a decision based on the facts. On the matter of abortion, the logic behind being pro-choice is more objective and therefore the stronger viewpoint. The first step in choosing a stance on abortion is to understand what the different beliefs are. There are two main beliefs on the matter: pro-life and pro-choice. A recent poll shows that about 51 percent of Americans are pro-life while 42 percent are pro-choice (Operation). According to the world’s oldest and largest pro-life organization, the mission of the pro-life belief is “to protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from the beginning of life to natural death” (NRLC)...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...P5: Describe how anti-discriminatory practice is promoted in health and social care Ethnical principles *Justice- Making sure rights are respected Autonomy- respecting the choices of individuals even if they go against your advice; increases independence of service user Beneficence- Taking actions that benefit service user Non-maleficence – not doing harm to service user *Equality and rights can be met if doing point above. * The care value base is built upon these ethnical principals, placing the service user at the heart of service promotion. Putting the service user at the heart of service provision To recognise and put service user need at the heart of service provision, care staff must: -Provide active support consistent with the beliefs, culture and preferences of the individual -Help individuals to express their needs and preferences -Empower service users -Promote individuals` rights, choices and also well being Providing active support consistent with the beliefs, culture and preferences of the individual Active support means helping individuals as much as possible and taking their beliefs, culture and first choices into account when making decisions in health settings that they have been involved in. If service staff is taking care of the Muslim faith individual, staff must provide halal meet so it would not go against their religion. Also if they wish to, they would need to have space for praying. Also if an individual comes and uses health and...
Words: 1542 - Pages: 7
...versus nurture debate is about the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities (“nature”) versus personal experiences ("nurture") in determining individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. There have been many theories formulated to explain why humans behave the way they do. Explanations vary from demonology to magnetic fluids controlling people's behaviors. Toby Epstein Jayaratne’s article entitled “The Perennial Debate: Nature, Nurture, or Choice? Black and white Americans’ explanation for individual differences” attempts to persuade readers that choice is just as an influential factor as genetics or the environment by examining a group of black and white Americans to determine which of the three factors are most responsible for their differences. The author argues that in order to account for a person’s behavior, their explanation or beliefs about what causes them is very influential in determining the behaviors they exude. To provide evidence for his topic and determine whether or not choice was a factor in how an individual behaves, Toby Epstein Jayaratne used a questionnaire and intensive interviews to survey 1200 individuals, in which half were black and the other half white with the same percentage of women and men within each group. The participants were asked to indicate how much of each factor they believed influenced their differences in...
Words: 1312 - Pages: 6
...| | Sco 120:Introduction to Ethics and Social ResposablityJohn MeeksShawna BandmannMay, 24,2013 | | Ethics is best described as the difference between what is morally right and what is not right. Ethical theory defines what is perceived to be right and what is wrong, while ethical practice suggest that one’s environment and cultural beliefs determine who one will react in any given situation. The question how do we as a society decide what is morally right or wrong in moral “free choice” (Mosser, 2010)? Morals are unique to each person, culture, religious belief and environment. Ethical practice is defined by the diversity within each society, where no to people are alike. Morals don’t define ethics, ethics define morality. Abortion an age old ethical debate between moral right choice and wrong choice, why? To evaluate abortion with ethics, we must first understand the argument from all perspectives. What is the debate reason abortion is so fiercely argued in past and present generations? Abortion is the term to define the choice to terminate a woman’s pregnancy. Unitarian view, which is the view that relativist challenge. Utilitarian view suggest that abortion is not wrong because its selfish and benefits the mother not the unborn fetus, this is what Unitarians refer to as :ethical egoism”(Mosser,2010). Relativist view is just a little less judgmental, suggesting that some situations may be determined morally correct while others simply remain wrong. In this paper neither...
Words: 1698 - Pages: 7
...Responsibility To Pay For Insurance That Covers The Cost of Contraceptives When It’s Against The Individual’s Personal Or Religious Beliefs Introduction: The term “ethics” can be derived from the Greek term ethos that means habit, custom, disposition or character. Ethics is defined as “a system of moral principals and a branch of philosophy which defines what is good for the individual and society. “ (Ethics, 2014) It is a collection of concepts acquired from philosophies, cultures, and religions. Some of these ethical concepts include the principals of autonomy, beneficence and social justice. Ethics provide a moral pathway in which individuals pick to find their way out of difficult issues. Individuals have many different derived concepts, or moral pathways, controversies that cause ethical dilemmas can become apparent. Such dilemmas can be seen in the health care delivery system of the United States and the policies that are enforced within it. One ethical argument in particular that poses issues and controversy regards society having the responsibility to provide or fund insurance that covers the cost of contraceptives when it is against the individual’s personal or religious beliefs. Ethical Dilemma/ Policy Issue: The term “conscientious objection” is the refusal to perform a legal role or responsibility because of personal beliefs. Conscientious objection in health care means that some practitioners might choose to not provide certain treatments to their patients...
Words: 2976 - Pages: 12
...Bioethics Reflection In my opinion, religion and beliefs are an important part of a person’s individuality. Beliefs can control how a person perceives what is moral and ethically right. Belief systems, whether they are Christian, Judaism, Buddhism, or others, can influence how an individual acts, speaks, and makes certain decisions. There is a line between religion and medicine and it is drawn mostly by today’s society. Today society has taken religion out of the schools, out of the government, and many other places. It is important to realize the significance of religion for individuals no matter where or what they do. This discussion focused on the overlap of religion and medicine and whether they should even overlap at all. In my opinion, if you are a Christian or of another religion, that will govern how you do things and how you perceive what are the right decisions to make. It is evident that each person thinks differently from others and I believe that this is due to certain beliefs that are a part of that individual. Doctors have extremely important roles in society. They have actual lives in their hands meaning they must do all things that are in their power to keep a person alive. Regardless of how a person believes, a doctor or other medical professional should use all the knowledge and information they have to best treat a patient in need of care. In this case study, I believe that the doctor was doing all that he could to give the best care to his patient...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...The controversy surrounding euthanasia can only be resolved when the procedure is legalized with mandatory, regulatory guidelines put in place to enable both physicians and individuals to decide the best course of action for themselves without fear. An individual’s view of euthanasia is influenced by religious and personal beliefs, current law, and medical assistance. The moral debate involves religion and other societal beliefs. Everyone has their own morals and values, which is their God-given, constitutional right. In America, our society’s morals are based in part on religious beliefs. Most religions, especially Christian religions, feel that taking life is wrong and against God’s commandments. The Catholic Church feels strongly about euthanasia and encourages both the Catholic congregation and United States politicians to maintain the illegal status of euthanasia (Christian Medical Fellowship). Various religions impose their beliefs and morals on the individual causing more confusion. In Euthanasia: The Battle for Life, Dr. Raymond Bohlin discusses what the Bible says about life, suffering, and death, quoting scripture that reflects Christian beliefs that God has created man, numbered his days, and that taking a life breaks God’s commandments. He goes on to imply that the issue can be resolved by praying, speaking out, and reaching out to the sick and the elderly. In support of Bohlin’s point of view,...
Words: 2108 - Pages: 9
...this framework, the standards are viewed as defining a function, m, from H into the real line such that m(8) m(77') That is, the standards if and only if 77R77'. are used to single out a most preferred alternative. Using the standards, we are able to compare any two accounting alternatives and decide which of the two is superior or whether they are equally desirable. Presumably, the comparisons are also transitive. One way of describing such a choice process, which we adopt, is to view the standards as providing a hypothetical numerical ranking for each of the alternatives. Note, however, that the domain of this ranking function is limited to E itself, without any reference to the individual's preferences and beliefs. A fundamental question now arises: does any such function, m(.), exist? In selected settings the answer is, no doubt, affirmative. But, in general, the answer is negative. This is discussed below. THE IMPOSSIBILITY RESULT max A E(U I y, 7, ay*)D(y | X7EXc YEY (2) (2) Observe that this characterization of the choice, or specification, of an accounting alternative is but an expected utility variant of the situation initially discussed. We provide for comparison of any pair of alternatives; and our comparisons are transitive. We place these comparisons in an expected utility format simply because it is convenient. Reliance on standards to specify the most preferred accounting alternative follows a somewhat different tack. The purpose is to select the preferred...
Words: 2055 - Pages: 9
...Chapter 8 Rational-Emotive-Behavior Therapy and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy CHAPTER OVERVIEW Rational-Emotive-Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Albert Ellis, is a therapy that consciously uses cognitive, emotive, and behavioral techniques to help clients. REBT theorists stress that human beings have choices. The control of ideas, attitudes, feelings, and actions is specific to the person who arranges a life according to personal dictates. Having little control over what happens or what actually exists, people do have choices and control over how they view the world and how they react to difficulties. CHAPTER OBJECTIVES After completing this chapter, the student will be able to: 1. Identify the philosophical assumptions associated with rational-emotive behavior therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy. 2. Explain the nature of people according to rational-emotive-behavior therapy. 3. Discuss rational and irrational thoughts and the three areas in which people hold irrational beliefs. 4. Describe the REBT process of teaching people to think and behave in more personally satisfying ways. 5. Summarize the "A, B, C, D, and E," approach to counseling. 6. Compare and contrast REBT with other theories. Evaluate the limitations and contributions of the REBT approach to counseling. CHAPTER SUMMARY Rational-Emotive-Behavior Therapy (REBT) has emerged from what Albert Ellis considered a limited rational-persuasive...
Words: 2078 - Pages: 9
...definitions of utilitarian terms. Although Williams presents a compelling case against utilitarianism, such a prominent theory in philosophy cannot be reproached so quickly. Utilitarianism enhances overall happiness and utility without disparaging individual integrity. The concepts making up utilitarianism are extensive, however two of the most fundamental concepts include negative responsibility and integrity. Negative responsibility is the belief that a person is as responsible for the consequences of an action that they failed to prevent as they are for the actions they carry out. The idea of negative responsibility is directly related to utilitarianism because it deals with the concept that a person is responsible for consequences brought about by their being. This includes a person’s lack of action which, in itself, is considered an action to a utilitarian. Based on negative responsibility in accordance with utilitarianism, a person should act, or not act, to increase utility. Integrity, or one’s personal moral uprightness and beliefs, is also an essential component in this theory. In Williams’ article he claims that utilitarianism demeans individual integrity by not taking into account the feelings of the individuals committing the acts. He believes an...
Words: 1084 - Pages: 5
...Assess the view that religion is not in decline but simply changing as a result of changes in wider society (33 marks) Secularisation theorists argue that religion is in decline. However, others have argued that religion is not in decline, but it is in fact changing. They believe it is changing in accordance to the changes within society such as greater individualism, consumerism and privatisation, all which present a shift towards postmodern societies. Grace Davie argues that religion isn’t declining but is taking a much more privatised form. She argues that we now have people in society who ‘believe without belonging’, this means people hold religious beliefs but don’t necessarily go to church because they don’t feel they have to go to church in order to be seen as being a religious person. Therefore, the decline in traditional religion is matched by the growth of a new form of religion. Davie notes a trend towards vicarious religion, which is where a small number of professional clergy practice religion on behalf of a much larger group of people. This pattern is typical in Britain where church attendance is low, but people still use the church for rites of passage in order to ‘hatch, match and dispatch), this related to people using the Church for occasions such as Baptisms, weddings and funerals. She compares vicarious religion as the tip of an iceberg and sees it as evidence for believing without belonging. For example, people may not be able to attend church due to work...
Words: 1407 - Pages: 6
...Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Abstract Counseling has been in existence from the beginning of time. From Jethro to Freud, therapists and philosophers have been seeking insight into the core of human nature and cognitions. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) recognizes that faulty cognitions and beliefs affect the behaviors of individuals. One method of cognitive-behavior therapy, reality therapy, incorporates the concepts of free choice and personal responsibility that are taught both in Scripture and Dr. William Glasser’s choice theory. Other aspects of CBT, such as cognitive restructuring and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), also work towards eliminating negativistic attitudes of clients in exchange for more effective and realistic methods for interpreting the situations experienced in daily life. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy It is suggested that an individual’s personality is a complex system of cognition, emotion, will, physiology, and spirituality. Hawkins proposes nine aspects of the human self to be active influences on one’s personality: “body, cognition, feelings, volition, human spirit, Holy Spirit, sin/flesh/SAS, temporal systems, and spiritual systems (Hawkins COUN507_BO1_200920). Each therapist individually determines what factors they believe to make up a person’s being. Larry Crabb views humans as involving both the physical and spiritual aspects of man...
Words: 4897 - Pages: 20
