Secularization can be defined as the decline of religion where religious beliefs, practices, and institutions lose importance or influence in society. Based on evidence from the 1851 census, it is estimated that 40% or more of Britain's adult population attended church on Sundays, compared to much lower rates today. Some key changes that have occurred include a decline in the proportion going to church, an increase in the average age of churchgoers, fewer baptisms and church weddings, a decline in traditional Christian beliefs, and greater religious diversity. In 1966, Bryan Wilson argued that Western societies had been undergoing a long-term process of secularization defined as religion losing social significance, as seen in the decline of church attendance in Britain from 40

1. SCLY3: Beliefs in Society

2. Text book definition: the decline of religion; the process
whereby religious beliefs, practices and institutions lose
their importance or influence; e.g. fewer couples now
marry in church and many people disregard religious
teachings on issues like divorce, homosexuality etc.
Dictionary.com definition:
to make secular; separate from religious or spiritual conne
ction or
influences; make worldly or unspiritual; imbue with secular
ism.
It is evident that the term ‘secularization’ is a problem
is assessing it.

3. Based on evidence from the 1851 Census of Religions Worship, Crockett (1998) estimates that in
that year, 40% or more of adult population of Britain attended church on Sundays. In comparison
to today’s figures, sociologists suggest that the 19th century was a ‘golden age’ of religiosity.
Changes:
o A decline in the proportion of the population going to church;
o An increase in the average age of churchgoers;
o Fewer baptisms and church weddings;
o A decline in the numbers holding traditional Christian beliefs; and
o Greater religious diversity, including more non-Christian religions.
Explanation (s) for trends:
o In 1966, Bryan Wilson argues that Western societies had been undergoing a long-term process
of secularisation. He defined secularisation as ‘the process whereby religious, beliefs, practices
and institutions lose social significance’. For example, church attendance in England and Wales
had fallen from 40% of the population in the mid-19th century to 10-15% by the 1960s. Church
weddings, baptisms and Sunday school attendance has also been declined, leading Wilson to
conclude that Britain has become a secular society.