Active learning ideas
The final topic in the beliefs unit asks: is religion dying out? Students evaluate the 'secularisation thesis', the idea that science and modernity are making religion less important. They will look at data on church attendance in the UK and compare it to the 'religious market' in the USA and the rise of New Age spirituality.
Activity 01
Display images of traditional churches, New Age shops, and 'online' religious services. Students must find evidence for both secularisation and religious renewal.
Is the UK experiencing a decline in religious belief and practice?
Activity 02
Students discuss whether they or people they know have spiritual beliefs but don't go to church. They pair up to evaluate Davie's theory that religion is becoming more private.
Why are women generally more religious than men?
Activity 03
Groups are given different theories for why women are more religious (e.g., socialisation, risk, clock-time). They must find evidence to support or challenge their assigned theory.
What explains the growth of sects and cults in contemporary society?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Secularisation means everyone is becoming an atheist.
It refers to the declining influence of religious *institutions* on society. A 'levels of secularisation' chart helps students distinguish between personal belief and social power.
New Age spirituality is just a 'fad'.
Sociologists see it as a significant shift toward 'individualised' religion. A 'spiritual market' activity helps students see how these movements cater to modern needs for self-discovery.
Methods used in this brief
Ideology, Science, and Religion
An exploration of different belief systems, comparing religious, scientific, and political ideologies. Students will analyse how these systems claim truth and influence societal norms.
8 methodologies
Religion and Social Change
This topic investigates whether religion acts as a conservative force or a catalyst for social change. Students will study historical and contemporary examples of religiously motivated movements.
8 methodologies