Assess the view that religion is not declining however simple changing its form (33 marks)
There is a view held by some that religion is in fact changing to reflect changes taking place in society, as opposed to declining. There have been numerous examples noted by sociologists to highlight the way in which religion may be changing in today’s society. Some believe that changes in religion occur due to changes in wider society, such as greater individualism and consumerism and a shift from modern to late modern or postmodern society.
One idea that sociologists use to back up the theory that religion is not declining is the “Believing without belonging” theory. This theory states that religion is not declining, where as it is taking different, more private form. An example being, people no longer feel that they have to go to church because it is “respectable” to do so. Thus although church going is declining has declined this is simply because attendance to church is now a personal choice and not something which is an expected practice. Believing without belonging is essentially people holding religious views but don’t go to church. This highlights a change from traditional church going religion to a more privatized form of modern religion. The idea of believing without belonging and personal choice regarding religious practice is carried on by Danielle Hervieu-Leger, she agrees that there has been a decline in institutional religion in Europe, with fewer and fewer people attending church in most countries. Despite this fall in institutional religion, religion is self has not declined. Instead the concept of individual consumerism has replaced collective tradition. People today now feel that they have a choice as consumers of religion, they have become according to Hervieu-Leger “spiritual shoppers”. Religion is now individualized, we have now developed our own beliefs that we practice ourselves that give meaning to our lives and correspond to our own...