Sociology – Paper 4 – Religion: Religion and social order | e-Consult

Model Answer:

1. Core propositions of secularisation theory:

   • Modernisation leads to the differentiation of social institutions, reducing religion’s authority.
   • Rationalisation and scientific advancement diminish the explanatory power of religious belief.
   • Individualisation encourages private spirituality over collective religious practice.

2. Evidence supporting the theory:

   • Declining church attendance and membership in many Western nations.
   • Growth of secular institutions (e.g., civil marriage, state schools) that replace religious functions.

3. Critiques and limitations:

   • Persistence and growth of non‑Western religious movements (e.g., evangelical Christianity, Islam) challenge a universal decline.
   • Religion continues to shape political activism (e.g., climate justice movements with faith‑based groups).
   • Secularisation may be a process of transformation rather than disappearance, leading to new forms of religiosity.

4. Conclusion: While secularisation theory explains certain trends in the West, it cannot fully account for the varied global patterns of religious influence on social change.