"Modern Britain is a secular society" Discuss
"Modern Britain is a secular society" Secularisation has become more of an issue among sociologists recently than it has been in the past. It is the argument of whether or not religion is losing it's importance in today's society that is the topic of discussion. Bryan Wilson defined secularisation as being "The process whereby religious thinking, practices and institutions lose social significance." This definition itself and not just the topic alone causes problems: it might be argued that it is not possible to measure the significance of such a personal thing as religion and if it is possible it may not even be true that religion held such a significance in the first place. It may not be true that modern Britain is a secular society or perhaps it is and it always has been. These are just some of the problems that arise with the discussion of secularisation.codb dbr sedbdbw ordb dbk indb fodb db. Continuing with Bryan Wilson, he believed that secularisation was in fact occurring and that religion holds less importance now than it had done in the past. Wilson used positivist methods such as analysing statistics to support his claim. Apparently Wilson thought the significance of relgion could be measured, and so he collected data from such 'Social Indicators' as church attendance, baptisms, weddings, closure of churches and growth in religious sects. The results showed that
RELIGION AND THE MEDIA Specifically religious programmes are those created by television channels and religions, to portray an image of
RELIGION AND THE MEDIA Specifically religious programmes are those created by television channels and religions, to portray an image of what they are, what they believe in, their philosophy and the selling of their idea and faith to the audience. This is done to promote and convert people to follow a religious ideology or faith to be able to share values and morals, and make society better. They are also created to inform people and give opinion and advice on moral and religious issues. Another purpose for the broadcasting of specifically religious programmes is to benefit all those people who are physically unable to attend church. The main idea of this worship programme is to bring the church to the people instead of the people going to the church; with this aim we have programmes such as "Songs of Praise" which conduct a church service with inspirational music performances and true stories. During the week, television channels have created a "God slot, in which religious programmes can be shown to the public, and are mostly aired at night or on Sunday afternoons. This is because on this day most Christians dedicate their time to practice their religion. According to the TV guide for the 4 national channels, we can see that the religions with most popularity are Christianity and Islam; there are programmes with discussion and debating involved or alternatively
Identify and evaluate the myths that are central to the writing of any two authors studied for this unit.
Cenrtral to both Elizabeth Jolley's "Mr Scobie's Riddle", and David Malouf's "Rememebering Babylon" is they myth that the landscape can provide the main chracters of the novels with something extrodinary that helps them repel against the conventions of society. The landscape is abe to provide them with an anditote against the ills and evils of the society to which these chracters are placed. Mr Scobie's religious temperment and uniqueness in his ability to connect spiritulally with the landscape provides him with a life-giving source against the evils of the nursing home. Gemmy Fairley has a similar ability to connect himself with the enviroment. But Gemmy also posseses the ability to show and give someone else that same experience. Mr. Scobie is clearly someone who is in touch with his surroundings. He feeds off the landscape that provides him with spiritual nourishment. Mr. Scobie's constant need to go back to Rosewood East indicates his desire to go back to where he is truly in touch with himself and his youth. During his stay at the nursing home Mr. Scboie is often reminded of his home, he is able to make connections with the life-giving past that he longs for. The "melancholy horn seemed to bring to his mind the railway lines" that led to his home. Mr. Scobie in thinking of his home is able to relase himself from the grasps of the nursing home. "The sweetness of the
Desiderius Erasmus and Christian Humanism.
Desiderius Erasmus was an influential figure in the late fifteenth century movement that was Christian Humanism. Christian Humanists were proponents of religious reform of the church primarily through educational and social change (McKay, 455). They were interested in returning to the importance of the Scriptures as well as the revival of antiquity. After being pressured by his parents to become a monk, Erasmus joined an Augustinian monastery, but considered himself a scholar first and foremost. He lived as a devout Christian, but was concerned with the corruption that had spread through the religious positions of office. However, Erasmus believed that religious revolt led directly to anarchy; therefore he took the side of neither the Pope, nor the reform radical, Martin Luther (Erasmus, in Workbook, 64). Erasmus hoped to provoke people into questioning their confidence in religious authority through his writings as opposed to speaking out directly against the Romanists. As a result both parties, Luther and the Romanists, disliked him. Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly as a satire in hopes that people would start to question the Romanists' religious authority. It is written from the point of view of Folly, a Greek goddess, who is disgusted with the ignorance and vanity of her worshipers. The goddess singles out different classes amongst her followers and exposes
"Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world". Do you agree? Give reasons.
Section B - Religion & the Media Coursework "Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world". Do you agree? Give reasons. The recent series of the BBC2 show, Coupling, presented an episode where a very religious Christian, James, was presented. In this episode, James was a presenter for a religious programme at a radio station, and meets Jane, who has an extremely stereotypical view on Christians. Jane is non religious herself, which is assured when she mentions that "I'm Christian too, I just happen to dress well" - which presents the typical outlook of many people nowadays, that believe Christians tend to wear 'out of fashion' clothing. James informs Jane that he is anti-premarital sex, which shocks her. Although James is religious, he is shown to be in touch with the modern world. Moreover, another programme that portrays a religious character is the Vicar of Dibley, in which Geraldine, the Vicar (played by Dawn French), is conveyed as the only normal person in Dibley. This BBC sitcom is set in a small country village called Dibley, and focuses on the characters' involvement in church activities. Although a female, Geraldine is portrayed as a respectable down to earth vicar who likes chocolate, sex and music. Geraldine is depicted as a modern character, although religious, she is able to stick by her religious beliefs and live her life
Is Britain a Religiously Pluralistic Society?
Is Britain a Religiously Pluralistic Society? Arguably, Britain is one of the best examples of a multi-faith society, perhaps in Europe; but this does not necessarily suggest that it is religiously pluralistic. I feel that contrary to the beliefs of most members of the class, Britain is not a pluralistic as one might think. The main reason why people feel Britain is very pluralistic is largely due to the area that we live in. Near London, the diversity in terms of race AND religion is immense, and can be seen whilst walking into one store along the high street. However, when one moves out of cities and into the more rural areas of Britain it is obvious that some religions are more prominent than others. Indeed, even in the area that we live in it is usual to find a gathering of one religion in a particular area, and example being Gants Hill with Jewish people. The idea of religions in different areas contradicts the idea of religious pluralism. Isn't the idea of religious pluralism based upon the idea of accepting all faiths as having an equal right to co-exist? There are some aspects of religious pluralism being encouraged, but this does not necessarily mean that society in general is supporting this idea. Long ago, Britain took the first steps towards a legally pluralistic society. This was achieved with laws being passed to give non-conformists freedom of worship, and
What is Dogma?
Dogma Dogma, a belief or set of rules held by a group or organization, which others are expected to follow or accept without argument. "He has caused a storm by calling into question one of the central dogmas of the church" Dogma is a black comedy, which challenges the ideas and beliefs, or dogma, set out by Catholics in particular, but may also apply to other faiths. The story is as follows; two angels get kicked out of Heaven, and they want to get back in. They find a way to get back, which in the process will forgive all their sins; unsurprisingly they must be stopped, by the "last scion", in the shape of Bethany a needy woman struggling through life. Accompanied by two dim 'prophets', an apostle and a muse, she must stop the two fallen angels from getting back into Heaven, as this would prove God wrong and mankind would be reversed, and the effects would be disastrous. The Dogma set of beliefs shared by many, i.e. Catholics, have been challenged in the film. The film has explored the ideas, looking at them from different angles, through different people and different characters. Quite surprisingly all of the film is based on "fact", or on the teachings of God, which makes the ideas explored a little more believable, so that the audience can relate to them or start to question or think about it, their own set of "dogmas". Different characters are featured in the film
Assess the view that deprivation is the main reason for the growth or new religious movements.
Assess the view that deprivation is the main reason for the growth or new religious movements. Membership of established mainstream churches has dropped dramatically. However affiliation with other religious organisations (including penticostal, Seventh-Day Adventists and Christian sects) has risen just as noticeably. It is estimated that there may now be as many as 25,000 new religious groups n Europe alone. In attempting to classify new religious movements, Wallis identified three main kinds of NRM. World rejecting, world affirming, and world accommodating. World affirming groups are usually individualistic, life-positive and aim to release human potentials. They tend to accept the world as it is, but involves techniques, which enable the individual to participate more effectively and gain more from their worldly experience. Research suggests that these are more common amongst middle-aged, middle class groups- often disillusioned and disenchanted with material values and in search of new positive meanings. World affirming sects appeal to those who are likely to have finished education, are married, have children and have a mortgage. Weber had suggested the modern world is one in which rationality dominates- this is, one in which magical, unpredictable and ecstatic experiences are uncommon. Further more, there is a tremendous pressure to become materially, emotionally
What do the grounds and buildings of Wimpole Hall tell us about the owners?
WHAT DO THE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS OF WIMPOLE HALL TELL US ABOUT THE OWNERS? The grounds and buildings of Wimpole Hall are all very fashionable and full of nature. There are some religious buildings especially for servants and others just for the owners. What does this tell us about the owners? The impressive classical style front and back walls of the stable block can tell us many things about the owners. It shows us that the owners treasured their horses and were also very rich because they could afford to make even the animals homes look good. The owners have tried to make a big impression on their visitors by showing that they can keep up with the fashions. The stable block has a plain wall which visitors would not have been seen. This could have meant that they were not as rich as most people thought them to be; they were saving money where possible. The stables would have been comfortable for the horses because they were larger than the average stables at the time. The stablehand and animal related servants would have lived above the stables, which would have been extremely uncomfortable for them. They probably would have had straw to sleep on which may have been itchy and smelt. The servants were there to keep watch over the horses because these animals were extremely valuable. It seems that the owners thought more of their horses than of their servants. The outside