Assess the view that whilst the Church of England is declining, other religious and spiritual movements are flourishing - 18 marks

Some sociologists argue that a spiritual revolution is taking place, with traditional Christianality giving way to a new age spirituality that emphasises personal development. Heelas and Woodhead studied the 'Kendall' to see how much religion is declining and how much it is compensated for. They distinguish between; the Hollistic Millieu and the congretional domain of traditional/evangelic Christian churches. They found that in 2002, 7.9 adults attended church weekly and 16% took part in religious activities. They came to a conclusion that the new age has grown as a 'subjective turn', allowing people to explore their inner-self. They also concluded that evangelic churches are more successful than traditional churches as the emphasise spiritual healing and the growth through the personal experience of being born again. However, some argue that this doesn't mean that a spiritual revolution has take place, the smaller growth of the Hollistic Millieu has not compensated for the larger decline of traditional religion.

Another movement that is flourishing is Stark and Bainbridge's religious market theory. They see the securalisation theory as a distorted view. They based their market theory on two assumptions; people are naturally religious and religion meets their neediest ion and people shop for a religion based on what they can afford and the benefits. The religious market theory is a critique of the  securalisation theory. They see it as Eurocentric and failing to explain religions continually growing vitallity in the USA and elsewhere. Stark and Bainbridge argue that their is a historical cycle in religious decline, revival and renewal, leaving a gap in the market for sects and cults.

However, some sociologists would argue that they don't think the Church of England is not going to decline much more. People still use church for rites of passage such as weddings and baptisms. People have the new idea of believing without belonging. They don't feel the need to attend church however they do still believe in god. So therefore just because the churn of England is declining, it doesn't mean people no longer believe. The media saturate people by showing them people from all over the globe. This allows them to participate in religion from their own home.