The document provides guidance for answering an exam question on whether most people today see spirituality and religious belief as purely private and personal matters. It lists key thinkers and theories around secularization and the privatization of religion. It also provides criteria for how to structure a high-quality answer, including demonstrating knowledge of the topic, accurately interpreting and applying evidence, analyzing different perspectives, and evaluating arguments to draw a logical conclusion. The document aims to help students understand what is required to score highly on the exam question.

1. My answer Mark scheme
Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that most people today
see spirituality and religious belief as purely private and personal matters.
(18 marks. Jan 2010)
AO1 My mark What I need to do to improve, and why
Knowledge
Understanding
AO2 My mark What I need to do to improve, and why
Interpretation
Application
Analysis
Evaluation

2. Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that most people today
see spirituality and religious belief as purely private and personal matters.
(18 marks. Jan 2010)
AO1 – Knowledge & Understanding
A top band answer is likely to include at least 4 of the following: Have I included
them?
Grace Davie – ‘believing without belonging’. Religious faith doesn’t
necessarily include membership or attendance at places of
worship any longer. It has become privatised.
Danielle Hervieu-Leger (postmodernist) – ‘spiritual market place’.
In postmodern society, religion, like every other part of our
identity & lifestyle, becomes a personal choice. We ‘pick & mix’ &
create our own faith. (Could include Lyotard)
Wilson – secularisation. Society has become more secular.
Mainstream religions have lost their authority. Churchgoing is no
longer the norm.
Martin - changing social & leisure patterns. Sundays are no longer
‘sacred’. People work or pursue other leisure interests. Internet &
globalisation – people may find out about or even practice a faith
online.
Wallis – alternative forms of spirituality (e.g. NRMs) involve only a
tiny fraction of the population and are shortlived. The majority of
people still practice faith through mainstream religions.
Heelas – Kendal Project. Privatised ‘New Age’ spirituality is
growing, but is still tiny compared to the mainstream
‘congregational domain’.
Growth of non-Christian and non-mainstream Christian
organisations. It’s not that people are moving away to a more
personal and privatised faith, just that the Church of England and
the Catholic Church are losing followers. Other organisations are
going strong. Faith schools remain strong too.
Wilson & Weber – the world is more secular & rational. It’s not
that religious belief is purely a private matter, it’s that religious
belief becomes increasingly impossible in such a scientific world.
(Ref popularity of Richard Dawkins’ ‘God Delusion’.)
(this space for any further thoughts)
(this space for any further thoughts)

3. Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that most people today
see spirituality and religious belief as purely private and personal matters.
(18 marks. Jan 2010)
AO2 – Interpretation, Application, Analysis & Evaluation
Skill How my essay could be improved:
Interpretation & Application:
question is clearly
understood, and the material
used is accurately explained
and its relevance made clear.
Arguments are applied to
evidence or real-life
examples.
Analysis: is explicit & clear.
The answer is well-structured,
no points are left hanging. All
parts are linked together (no
‘scattergun approach’).
Comes to a distinct and
logical conclusion.
Evaluation: ideas are
contrasted clearly, and valid
criticisms made. Evidence is
weighed up before a logical
conclusion is drawn.
Methodological issues, where
relevant, are highlighted.