Religion, renewal and choice
Religion, renewal and choice

Modernity | Is seen as beginning with the industrial revolution. It is characterised by rapid social change, scientific and technological development and secularisation. Beck and Giddens argue that late modernity will accelerate, especially as a result of globalisation. | Post modernity | The view that society has moved into a new era of postmodernity- a globalised, media-saturated society. Culture is fragmented, unstable and ever changing, and individuals create and change their identities through consumption of signs and brands. Some Marxists see PM as the latest phase of capitalism, in which globalisation permit the accumulation of capital. | Individualism | The idea that the individual is more important than the group. In postmodern society, individualism becomes more important becomes more important than it is in traditional society and individuals actions are influenced more by self-interest rather than obligation. Secularisation theorists argue that this leads to decline in religion by undermining its communal basis. | Vicarious religion | Is experiencing religion ‘second hand’ or at a distance. Attending churches for rites of passage but not on a regular basis. A small number of professional clergy practise religion on behalf of a much larger number of people | Cultural amnesia | Loss of collective memory, where religion is no longer being handed down through generations as members of family are more attracted to individualism. | Consumerism | Replacing collective tradition by having the choice to consume into religion without any expectations in place. Due to choice, as consumers of religion we become spiritual shoppers. | Spiritual shoppers | Those that choose religious beliefs and practises to meet their individual needs, from the vast range available in the religious market- place within post-modern society. | Pilgrims | Follow an individual path in a search for self-discovery, exploring new age spirituality by joining groups or through individual therapy. There is demand created for this by today’s emphasis on personal development | Converts | Join religious groups that offer a strong sense of belonging, usually based on a shared ethnic background or religious doctrine. Such groups recreate re-create a sense of community in a society that has lost many of its religious traditions. | Globalisation | Refers to the growing interconnectedness of societies, which has led to greatly increased movements of ideas and beliefs across nations | Eurocentric | Europe at the centre of things | Compensators | According to S&B, when real rewards are scarce or unobtainable, religion compensates us by promising supernatural ones. Only religion provides us with such compensators. | Existential security theory | Is the feeling that survival is secure enough that it can be taken for granted. The theory is based on the view that religion arises where people lack economic security. Religion has declined most in affluent societies where there is welfare provision and remained popular in poorer societies. | Poor society | Life threatening risks such as famine with high levels of insecurity therefore high levels of religiosity. | Rich society | Where people have high standards of living and are at less risk, greater sense of security thus lower levels of religiosity. |