3D Challenges from secularisation Flashcards Preview

A-level RS - Christianity (Eduqas/WJEC) > 3D Challenges from secularisation > Flashcards

Flashcards in 3D Challenges from secularisation Deck (37)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What percentage of primary and secondary schools in the UK have a Christian affiliation?

A

• 30% in some regions

2
Q

How many bishops sit in the House of Lords?

A

• 26

3
Q

According to a 2011 census, what percentage of the population is affiliated with Christianity? And how many report attending weekly religious services?

A
  • 54%

* Only 15%

4
Q

What is the estimated overall church attendance? What is the estimated Church of England attendance?

A
  • 5%

* Less than 2%

5
Q

According to a 2000 ORB survey, how many people claimed to be a spiritual person? How many claimed to be a religious person?

A
  • 31%

* 27%

6
Q

What percentage of Church of England births were baptised in 1950 and 2011?

A
  • 1950: 67%

* 2011: 12%

7
Q

What percentage of marriages were in churches in 1957 and 2000?

A
  • 1957: 72%

* 2000: 36.3%

8
Q

While religious funerals are common, what do many people have instead?

A

• A ‘celebration of life’

9
Q

What is the general view of politicians towards religion?

A

• Often silent

10
Q

Dawkins’ ‘The God Delusion’ (2006), advancing atheism and science over religion, was a national bestseller. For how many consecutive weeks was it on the New York Times bestseller list?

A

• 51

11
Q

It is relatively rare for someone to die without what?

A

• Some form of religious service

12
Q

What is happening to the numbers at cathedrals amongst worshippers, pilgrims, tourists and visitors?

A

• It is growing

13
Q

Give four examples of professions that often have chaplains.

A
  • Health care
  • Prison
  • Armed forces
  • Higher education
14
Q

What was the percentage difference between the 2001 and 2011 Census for England and Wales regarding the number who stated ‘no religion’ and ‘Christian’?

A
  • No religion: 2001 - 15%; 2011 - 25%

* Christian: 2001 - 72%; 2011 - 59%

15
Q

Which two movements are more widely presented in schools?

A
  • Atheism

* Humanism

16
Q

Give three examples of the increase in what one can do on Sunday.

A

• Inc. participation in work, shopping, sport

17
Q

What are many churches being turned into?

A

• Commercial spaces

18
Q

What is the issue that many people have with the 2011 Census figure of 25% of people stating ‘no religion’?

A

• Many believe it underestimates the true number ∵ the question led ppl in the direction of giving a positive answer:
- ‘What is your religion?’ seemingly assumes ppl had one

19
Q

According to a 2013 British Social Attitudes Survey, which asked ‘Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?’, what percentage answered ‘No’? What was the figure in 1983?

A
  • 2013: 50.6%

* 1983: 31.4%

20
Q

According to the research of sociologist Linda Woodhead, what percentage of 18-24 and 60+ year olds represented those citing ‘no religion’? What do these figures suggest?

A
  • 18-24: 60%
  • 60+: 34%
  • ‘No religion’ = expanding as C.ty = diminshing
21
Q

What binds the ‘no religion’ group together?

A

• Not hostility to religion, but simply not being part of a r. community

22
Q

What is a faith school?

A

• A school ass. w/ a r. trad.

23
Q

What religion are most faith schools in the UK associated with?

A

• C.ty

24
Q

In faith schools, often the governors rather than the Local Authority are responsible for the school’s admission policy/appointing staff. What are the issues with this? What have many faith schools consequently done?

A

• Issues:
- There may be a preference for hiring teachers who adhere to the school’s religion
- Might prioritise students affiliated with the r.
- Many families have attended c.ch simply to get a place
• Actions of many faith schools:
- Removed any faith criteria from the admissions policy

25
Q

What are some advantages of faith schools?

A
  • R. grounding in education - some parents want this
  • Tend to be among the best-performing state schools
  • Diversity/choice to the educational landscape
  • Values/ethics of the r. trad. represent inclusivity, tolerance, justice, love
26
Q

What are some objections to faith schools?

A

• British Humanist Association actively campaigns against faith schools ∵ believe that pub. funds should not be used to promote r. They give the following objections:

  • The teaching of r.e. in faith schools ≠ specifically inspected by Ofsted
  • R. education aims to instruct children in doctrine/practices rather than a more objective approach
  • R.e. in faith schools does not have to cover all r.s - “almost certainly fails to give a fair account of non-religious views.”
  • Ethical issues e.g abortion/assisted suicide might be approached from an exclusively r. standpoint
  • Some faith schools have taught creationism/intelligent design as scientific theories
  • PSHE can be homophobic/gender discriminatory
27
Q

As part of a study conducted by Linda Woodhead, people were asked “Why have you chosen/would you choose a faith school?”; what percentage answered ‘academic standards’ and what percentage answered ‘transmission of belief about God’?

A
  • Academic standards: 77%

* Transmission of belief about God: 3%

28
Q

Explain the 2015 issue of the Lord’s Prayer and Star Wars.

A
  • CofE produced an advert to be shown at beginning of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ showing ppl in diff. settings saying the Lord’s Prayer
  • Digital Cinema Media banned advert ∵ transgressed its policy of not promoting ads w/ pol. or r. messages - thought it could offend ppl of “differing faiths or no faith”
  • Outcry from leaders inc. Sadiq Khan, David Cameron
  • EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission): “There is nothing in law that prevents Christian organisations promoting their faith through adverts.”
  • John Hegarty, advertising executive: “it [CofE] should make its views known […] from the pulpit […] But of course, they can’t get many people to go to church so they want to take their message to the cinemas.”
  • Does the decision reflect the decreasing influence of C.ty, or does the outcry show widespread support?
29
Q

Explain the 2006 case of Nadia Ewedia.

A
  • BA suspended Ewedia ∵ she refused to cover up her crucifix at work even though hijabs + turbans could be worn
  • Brought her case to court against gov. for not protecting their rights
  • Won case
  • ECHR: “the domestic authorities failed sufficiently to protect the applicant’s right to manifest her religion.”
  • BA changed their policies in 2007
  • This case, along with the cases of Shirley Chaplin, Gary McFarlane, and Lillian Ladele challenge the notion of the UK as a C.tian country
30
Q

Explain the 2008 case of hotel discrimination.

A
  • Hotel in Cornwall owned by the Bull family refused to let two civil partners stay in a room, based on their C.tian beliefs
  • Bristol + Supreme Courts held that they had acted unlawfully
  • Stonewall, homosexual rights group: would have beem more ‘Christian’ for the Bulls to have fought poverty/disease than pursue the case
31
Q

What percentage of Christians surveyed in 1989 and 2014 disagreed with same-sex marriage?

A
  • 1989: 70-80%

* 2014: Less than 30%

32
Q

What is secularisation?

A

• The process of society moving away from r.

- Shown in UK by a decline in: attendance, performance of rituals, influence in gov./society

33
Q

Give an ethical example of how science and religion are not always opposed.

A

• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

34
Q

How are many people disillusioned with ‘modern science’?

A
  • Famine persists
  • Global warming
  • Healthcare/prosperity have not been delivered for all
35
Q

How can the decline in attendance be interpreted in a positive way from the perspective of a believer?

A

• Movement away from r. as a duty to r. as a choice ∴ those who practise may find their faith more meaningful

36
Q

What could be said about the existence of many Christian initiatives such as the ‘Street Pastor’ movement (20,000 ppl) who provide help on the streets?

A

• ‘Last gasps’ of a dying religion

37
Q

According to sociologists Elisabeth Arweck and James A. Beckford, what six factors should committed secularists consider?

A

1) Religious vitality - r. = popular for many in diff. forms
2) Nature of modernity - diff. ways of being modern; r. could be a resource for modern living when science does not provide all the solutions
3) De-privatisation - r. has helped to bring about positive social change
4) Globalisation - transnational r. movements
5) Gender - wide range of views of women’s roles
6) Rational choice - r. thrives when state regulation (in the form of the est. c.ch) is lower