Read the summary and the most important questions on Week 11- Religious Rejection

• 1 Week 11- Religious Rejection

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• What are the sub-identities of Atheism?

  1. Negative Atheism: the absence in the belief of God. 
  
  2. Positive Atheism: the denial of the belief of God and the positive engagement with this.
  
  But then why would you label yourself Atheist if you are not interested in religion? In a sense they keep religion alive. 

• What is Brown's ideas on Atheism?

  *Millions become atheist in the west and begin to live their lives as if there were no God/ 
  He believes it is an individual approach and many do not actually label themselves atheist.

• Give two examples of celebrity Atheism?

  1. John Lennon's song "Imagine" in 1971. 
  This shows the ideas of countries and religions causing conflicts, highlights his rejection of religion at a personal level.
  
  A song that pre-eluded this was "God" in 1970 which pre-figures his loss of religion.    
  
  2. Richard Dawkins
  He is an evolutionary biologist and a key person in the New Atheism.
  He very much promotes science over religion and rejects religious creationism.
  He wants to raise consciousness that you can be happy, moral and fulfilled as an atheist.

• Describe the Atheist Bus campaign? (5 points)

  * This was a way of bridging Atheism and Humanism 
  -> the slogan combines positive Atheism and human centred values:
  
  "There's probably *1no God. *2Now stop worrying and enjoy your life"  
  *1: positive atheism
  *2: Human centred values.
  
  * It was launched in 2008 and put into action in 2009.
  
  * It was supported by The Dawkins Foundation (Atheist) and British Humanist Association (Humanist).
  
  * It was part of a wider campaign on "coming out", relating to gay liberation.

• What is the organisation for Humanism? Describe (7 points).

  British Humanism Association. 
  
  * Was set up in 1967 (Note: during Long 60's).
  
  * Around 69% were male and 31% female.
  
  * Has a calendar event: 21st June = World Humanist Day.
  
  * Does many campaigns, for example against faith schools.
  
  * Purpose: " focuses on non religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfillinf lives on the basis of reason and humanity" 
  -> Therefore promotes equal treatment of all, regardless of their religion.
  
  * "Good without God"

• Give details of a study of Non-religion and what it found.

  A study was carried out in Edinburgh University to understand the diversity of people who associate with non-religion. 
  
  It found 5 types of non-religion.
  
  1. Naturalistic: Concerned with science and knowledge.
  
  2. Humanistic: Concerned with people, humanity or virtues e.g. kindness, selflessness.
  
  3. Spiritual: Concerned with a variety of experiential phenomena e.g. love and kinship, friends and family, nature.
  
  4. Familial: Concerned with beliefs, faiths and values which are located within the family unit.
  
  5. Philosophical: Concerned with rational way of thinking.

• Give reasons why Non-religion came about?

  Perhaps came about due to a series of drifts. 
  
  1. Weekly church going -> decline.
  2. Church Memberships -> Decline.
  3. Rites of passage -> Decline.
  4. Beliefs in God, heaven and hell -> Decline.
  5. Identification with a specific church -> Decline.
  
  Due to social and cultural transformations of ways of feeling about body, gender and sexuality also had an impact on the traditional beliefs, practices and institutions. LOSS OF NORMATIVE CHRISTIAN CULTURE. 
  
  

• What effect does the media have on religion in society?

  The media has become an important way for people to engage with religion and for people to learn about religion due to the decline in church going etc. 
  
  The media and movies represent religion e.g. the da vinci code or harry potter -> these represent religion and the supernatural and allows religion to still circulate society and remain prominent in a way.

• Detail three types of nominal Christians and describe what this term means?

  Nominal Chrisitans: Those who identify as christian but do not practice. 
  
  1. Natal Christians: Due to familial heritage.
  
  2. Ethnic: used to distinguish self from non-christians.
  
  3. Aspirational: who aspire to the perceived benefits of association with christianity e.g. migrants.

• What is a possible definition of culture?

  A way of experiencing and making sense of the world where we conduct social relationships and perform meaningful actions.