teachers or high level students please could you mark this for me.

“Some sociologists choose claim that society has entered a new era, that of postmodernity, in which religion and spirituality take on new forms. In postmodern society, tradition loses its influence over people. Consumption and choice become more important and new people are free to choose their identity and their beliefs. Postmodern society is increasingly globalised, and the media and information technology become much more important, for example moving religious ideas and images out of their traditional physical home in churched and making them available around the globe.”
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge evaluate the impact of postmodernity on religious and spiritual beliefs and practises (20)


Postmodernity is the notion of a society which exhibits individualism and choice. Postmodernists believe religion is not declining, but rather changing form. In contrast, Structuralist theories may argue religion is instead an ideology embedded in society to exploit disadvantaged groups.

Postmodernist sociologist Davie notes the shift from obligation to consumption- instead of religious institutions being imposed on us, we now have a choice. Religion is now vicarious- it can be practiced by a small minority for the majority, and acts a spiritual health service. Similar to the NHS, we can use it in times of need and desperation. This is reinforced by functionalism Malinowski's study, who found that tribesmen would turn to religion when in danger. This suggests postmodernism has influenced religion due to its emphasis on individualism and choice and how it can be catered to our individual needs. This is evident in the item which claims ‘free to choose their identity’.

Hervieu-leger continues such a theme of personal choice and agrees that religion has lost its ‘obligation’. This is due to what she describes as ‘cultural amnesia’ or a loss of collective memory. Religion is no longer taught passed down through extended families as society has become more individualized (the notion of choice and free will), and parents believe children should decide for themselves what they want. Though this would seem to suggest a decline in institutional religion, it has by no means disappeared, but instead just changed form. We are now spiritual shoppers- religion is now a personal spiritual journey, with two new religious types emerging- pilgrims and converts. This relates to the item which claims ‘spirituality takes new forms’. This suggests that due postmodernism, religion has acted as a source of collective identity.

However, other sociologists argue religion has not been impacted by postmodernity due to it being structurally embedded in society, in order to legitimise class inequality. Marxists such as Lenin argue religion acts as a ‘spiritual gin’ and distorts the working classes view of society. Religion misleads the poor into believing their suffering is virotious and they will be favored in the afterlife. Through passages like ‘it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ the wc feel as though they are not being exploited but rather serving God. This suggests that postmodernity lacks influence over religion, as it is structurally embedded into society in order to distort the exploitation of a capitalist society and acts in the interest of upper classes by stopping a revolution. This is why Marx has referred to religion as an ‘opium of the masses’ as it dulls the pain of exploitation - a mask rather than a treatment.

In contrast, other sociologists argue religion as a whole is losing its influence, due a decrease in plausibility. In the middle ages, the catholic church, as described by Berger, held an absolute monopoly- it was not questioned and accepted, a sacred canopy. Everyone lived under a set of beliefs shared by all- no challenges meant it was more plausible. Since then, due to an increase in religious diversity as a result of the protestant revolution, the catholic church has lost its undaobutle influence. As a result, people are less likely to trust or believe in a specific religion, due to the number of alternatives there are. This suggests religion has lost its validity and influence due to uncertainty, and therefore has not been shaped by postmodernity. However, Berger has since redacted these claims and says religious diversity has helped inspire interest in religion.

To conclude, it appears that religion has been influenced by postmodernity to a degree- with evident new forms of religion emerging due to a decrease in obligation. However, other sociologists may interpret this as a notion of secularisation as traditional institutional religion is weakening.


any feedback is appreciated.

You've posted up a few pieces of work today, asking for people to 'mark' it. This is a generalist forum, not a tutoring website. Are you able to afford a private tutor, or ask your teachers to give you proper feedback (assuming you're not home schooled)?

I just prefer receiving feedback from a range of people rather than 1 or 2 sources.