There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of sects, cults and new religious movements in the later twentieth century. According to Greeley and Nelson the growth of new religious indicates that society is undergoing a religious revival, and not a decline and that there are more people than ever who have religious beliefs.
There has also been an increase in the membership of non-Trinitarian religions in the UK. Religious broadcasting also continues to be popular, with large audiences watching programmes such as songs of praise. Broadsheet newspapers have columns developed to religious matters.
There are many sociologists who do believe that secularisation has taken place in modern society. Wilson conclude there has been a decrease in the amount of people attending church and the amount of wedding, christening etc taking place at church, as well as the rising divorce rate and the number of children born outside of marriage.
In modern day society religion is rarely spoken about amongst the youth and has a great deal of ‘stigma’ attached to children going to school which can often lead to bullying, if we were to go back 30 –40 years ago this would of ceased to exist.
In conclusion, I feel that Bella’s argument is most valid; concluding that modern society religion has not disappeared it has simply been privatised. In a highly individualistic society, religion has become something that is restricted to private life; more people are able to practice their religious beliefs without necessarily attending church. However there are also many points, which should be taking into account for example that there has also been a decline in the amount of religious ceremonies taking place at church as well as the ‘stigma’ attached to young children attending church.
6
The debate to whether religion is a way in which some social groups express their unity and the fact that religion can also contribute to social divisions and social conflict is a great one.
Functionalists believe that religion ‘generates an agreed set of values, which operates to ‘hold society together. Durkheim believed that religion creates stability, identity and a ‘collective consciousness’. When individuals are able to share in the same religious rituals, ceremonies and beliefs, it creates unity in the social group. Malinowski also believed that religion created a sense of identity, he stated that religion helped individuals and societies to deal with the torment life opens them up to, and helped them to deal with it.
This particular view can be argued though as the strength of some religions and their beliefs have not just maintained social stability but have also created conflict between different religious groups, which has threatened social stability. This view that religion acts to social divisions and social conflict is lead by the view of Marxists They believe that there are ‘dysfunctional aspects to religion, they see religion as being an integral part of the way a ruling class divides and rules subordinate classes. So therefore they view religion as unable to hold society together for the benefit of all in society but in the interests of a small ruling class.
Feminists add to the debate to say that religion contribute to the creation of conflict and division through patriarchal ideology, and example of their sis that the Catholic church’s teachings on abortion and contraception gear women towards having a so called ‘domestic role’, something which feminists see as a major social control over women. There are also mainly male figures who are of religious places of worship.
It is clear to say that there can be no defined explanation as to whether or not religion allows social groups to express their unity or allows social conflict to occur. In many aspects religion can be seen as a form of bringing society together, for example attending church allows members to share their beliefs and values with one another. However many religions show conflict, for example the ruling class having superior values to the subordinate classes, leading a ‘false class consiousness.
