A-Level Sociology (AQA)

Topic Summaries

Beliefs in society

Secularisation

  • Evidence: 👤 Wilson (1960), 👤 Weber (1920), 👤 Bruce (2002) declines in attendance, belief, and practice due to rationalisation, technological worldviews, and structural differentiation.
    • 👤 Davie (1990) points to “believing without belonging” and “vicarious religion.”
  • Alternative views (👥Stark and Bainbridge, 1985, 👥Norris and Inglehart, 2004) religion adapts/persists where there is demand, remaining strong in some societies.
    • Cannot fully explain patterns in affluent yet religious countries like the USA.

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