Sociology Paper 2 - Beliefs - Secularisation {AQA}

This pack contains a 51-slide PowerPoint Presentation and an accompanying 50 page student booklet

The lessons covers:

Starter - students to discuss and debate rise of secularism, why religious belief is in decline, etc.
Definitions of Secularisation

**Discussion of basic census data **- introduce the central arguement: secularisation is taking place!

Church attendance in decline - reasons for this, alternative ways to interpret this data
Decline in Baptisms, rise of Bogus Baptism
Task - what others reasons can students think of to explain a decline in church attendance?
Decline in Religious affiliation
The church is losing its influence as a social institution
Decline in number of clergy - “Linda Woodhead”
Steve Bruce - Reinforce the view that secularisation is happening

Explanations of Secularisation

Religious affiliation is in decline / reasons why this is happening are discussed
Growth of Social and Religious diversity undermines the mainstream organisations
**
Max Weber - Rationalisation**

Rationalisation
Desenchantment - Protestant Reformation and Maritn Luther
**
Steve Bruce - Technological World View**

Structural Differentiation

Disengagement
Privatised religion

Social & Cultural Diversity

Reading/comprehension activity for students to complete independently
Feedback / Q&A
Critics of Social and Cultural Diversity

Religious Diversity
Cultural Defence
Cultural Transition
Religion as a focal point for group identity

Secularisation in America

American Way of Life
Religion has become superficial in the USA

Steve Bruce - summary and supporting evidence

Critiques of Secularisation theory

Assessment / Consolidation