The influence of religion
Candidates will consider whether modern societies have experienced a gradual process of secularisation, giving an opportunity to reflect on the key concept of Social change and development. Candidates will explore the links between feminist theory and the analysis of religion, linking to the key concepts of Socialisation, culture and identity, and Power, control and resistance. They will consider different religious movements and the influence they exercise over their followers. The analysis of fundamentalist religious movements also provides a context for applying the key concept of Inequality and Opportunity.
12.1 The secularisation debate
• The secularisation thesis.
• Evidence for a decline in religious belief.
• Discussions about whether rationalisation is leading to a decline in religious belief.
• Debates about whether religion has lost its social significance.
https://www.thoughtco.com/secularization-definition-3026575 https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/topics/secularisation
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-secularisation-explained
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/21/what-is-secularization/#:~:text=A%20simple%20definition%20of%20secularization,of%20religion%20in%20a%20society.&text=The%20strength%20of%20religious%20beliefs,of%20God%20or%20an%20afterlife.
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religion-and-globalisation/secularisation/
Video Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iztoU9ECGY (12 mins)
Evidence against: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9vN5nm6ko (8 mins)
Contemporary Research:
2023 Study from Kings College London:https://www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-institute/assets/lost-faith-the-uk's-changing-attitudes-to-religion.pdf
2020 Pew Research Centre Report. Global God Divide. Research stats and commentary on how different countries believe and belong: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/PG_2020.07.20_Global-Religion_FINAL.pdf
Podcast: https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/podcast-linda-woodhead-on-the-secularisation-thesis/ (23 mins)
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-secularisation-explained
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/21/what-is-secularization/#:~:text=A%20simple%20definition%20of%20secularization,of%20religion%20in%20a%20society.&text=The%20strength%20of%20religious%20beliefs,of%20God%20or%20an%20afterlife.
https://hecticteachersalevelsociologysite.wordpress.com/unit-3-beliefs-in-society/religion-and-globalisation/secularisation/
Video Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iztoU9ECGY (12 mins)
Evidence against: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9vN5nm6ko (8 mins)
Contemporary Research:
2023 Study from Kings College London:
2020 Pew Research Centre Report. Global God Divide. Research stats and commentary on how different countries believe and belong: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/07/PG_2020.07.20_Global-Religion_FINAL.pdf
Podcast: https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/podcast-linda-woodhead-on-the-secularisation-thesis/ (23 mins)
12.2 Gender, feminism and religion
• Feminist perspectives on religion.
• Explanations for patriarchy and gender inequality in religion.
• Moves towards gender equality in religious organisations and evidence that religious practices may benefit women.
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/02/radical-feminist-perspective-religion/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/07/27/el-saadawi-feminism-islam-women/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/07/20/simone-beauvoir-religion-second-sex/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-gender-and-religious-belief
Interview with D Voas:
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/23/qa-why-are-women-generally-more-religious-than-men/
Nature vs Nurture?:
https://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/22/theories-explaining-gender-differences-in-religion/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx5siGN-_Kg (16 mins)
Essays by Linda Woodhead:
https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_TGS_027_0033--gender-differences-in-religious-practice.htm (2012)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229796633_Feminism_and_the_Sociology_of_Religion_From_Gender-blindness_to_Gendered_Difference (2019)
Towards gender equality in religion:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/06/if-we-reject-gender-discrimination-in-every-other-arena-why-do-we-accept-it-in-religion https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2018/05/03/450268/efforts-women-faith-achieve-gender-equality/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/religion-holds-women-back-or-does-it/
https://www.deseret.com/2019/5/4/20672375/the-role-of-religion-is-changing-and-so-is-gender-equality-here-s-how-they-re-connected
https://www.livescience.com/religious-states-wider-gender-pay-gap.html
Range of articles: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/womens-rights-and-gender-equality-in-focus+world/religion
Revision:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/religion-and-gender
https://quizlet.com/133782396/sociology-a-level-religion-theories-feminism-flash-cards/
• Feminist perspectives on religion.
• Explanations for patriarchy and gender inequality in religion.
• Moves towards gender equality in religious organisations and evidence that religious practices may benefit women.
https://revisesociology.com/2018/08/02/radical-feminist-perspective-religion/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/07/27/el-saadawi-feminism-islam-women/
https://revisesociology.com/2018/07/20/simone-beauvoir-religion-second-sex/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-gender-and-religious-belief
Interview with D Voas:
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/23/qa-why-are-women-generally-more-religious-than-men/
Nature vs Nurture?:
https://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/22/theories-explaining-gender-differences-in-religion/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx5siGN-_Kg (16 mins)
Essays by Linda Woodhead:
https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_TGS_027_0033--gender-differences-in-religious-practice.htm (2012)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229796633_Feminism_and_the_Sociology_of_Religion_From_Gender-blindness_to_Gendered_Difference (2019)
Towards gender equality in religion:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/06/if-we-reject-gender-discrimination-in-every-other-arena-why-do-we-accept-it-in-religion https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2018/05/03/450268/efforts-women-faith-achieve-gender-equality/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/religion-holds-women-back-or-does-it/
https://www.deseret.com/2019/5/4/20672375/the-role-of-religion-is-changing-and-so-is-gender-equality-here-s-how-they-re-connected
https://www.livescience.com/religious-states-wider-gender-pay-gap.html
Range of articles: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/womens-rights-and-gender-equality-in-focus+world/religion
Revision:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/religion-and-gender
https://quizlet.com/133782396/sociology-a-level-religion-theories-feminism-flash-cards/
12.3 Religion and post-modernity
• Discussions about whether there has been a growth in privatised religion.
• The concept of spiritual shopping and its contribution to understanding religiosity today.
• Debates about whether resacrilisation is a feature of post-modernity.
• The significance of new religious movements (NRMs) and New Age ideas for understanding the meaning and significance of religion today.
• Different explanations for the growth in fundamentalist religions, including cultural defence, cultural transition, disengagement, marginality, and religious revival.
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/13/four-theories-of-postmodernity-and-religion-a-summary/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-postmodernism-and-religion
https://sociologytwynham.com/2018/05/02/postmodernism-and-religion/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/types/postmodernism.shtml
https://ddd.uab.cat/record/107515
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFjXcUQzN34 (17 mins)
Revision:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/postmodernism_perspective_on_religion
https://quizlet.com/gb/518380419/aqa-sociology-beliefs-in-society-postmodernism-flash-cards/
• Discussions about whether there has been a growth in privatised religion.
• The concept of spiritual shopping and its contribution to understanding religiosity today.
• Debates about whether resacrilisation is a feature of post-modernity.
• The significance of new religious movements (NRMs) and New Age ideas for understanding the meaning and significance of religion today.
• Different explanations for the growth in fundamentalist religions, including cultural defence, cultural transition, disengagement, marginality, and religious revival.
https://revisesociology.com/2018/10/13/four-theories-of-postmodernity-and-religion-a-summary/
https://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/reference/sociology-postmodernism-and-religion
https://sociologytwynham.com/2018/05/02/postmodernism-and-religion/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/types/postmodernism.shtml
https://ddd.uab.cat/record/107515
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFjXcUQzN34 (17 mins)
Revision:
https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-notes/postmodernism_perspective_on_religion
https://quizlet.com/gb/518380419/aqa-sociology-beliefs-in-society-postmodernism-flash-cards/