REVISION: Developments in Christian Thought - "THE CHALLENGE OF SECULARISM"

Revision notes for A-level Religious Studies (OCR)

Six pages

DCT – CHALLENGES

THE CHALLENGE OF SECULARISM

• Secularism
• Secularisation
• DAVID FORD
• JOSE CASANOVA
• God is an illusion
• SIGMUND FREUD
• Humans personify ‘purpose’
• Link to Plato’s forms
• Coping mechanism
• RICHARD DAWKINS:
• Religion narrows perception, science widens it
• JOHN POLKINGHORNE
• Matthew 5

Objections to secularism

• JO MARCHANT
• Physiological benefits
• “Feeling part of something bigger"
• "Knowledge of our own mortality”
• CHARLES TAYLOR
• 'Subtraction stories’
• Post-Enlightenment attitude
• TERRY EAGLETON
• Marx
• “Secularism is largely doomed”
• Secular capitalism
• Events of 9/11
• Positivist dream of world without religion

Christianity should play no part in public life

• Secular humanism
• AMSTERDAM DECLARATION
• Seven aims of modern humanism
• Programmatic secularism
• Procedural secularism
• “Diversity gone mad”
• ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST FAITH SCHOOLS
• Radicalisation
• House of Lords
• Dominionism
• Reconstructionism
• SECULARISATION PROS AND CONS
• Social cohesion
• Corrupt theocracy
• Disenchantment
• Religious motives replaced by rational motives
• MAX WEBER
• Key issues

LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND MARX

Marx’s teaching on alienation + exploitation

• Alienation
• Dehumanisation
• "Fundamental evil of capitalist society”
• Exploitation
• Means to an end
• Historical materialism =
• Praxis
• Proletariat must revolt against bourgeoisie
• False consciousness
• ‘Joined-up’ thinking
• Working towards common good