Reconciling supply-side and secularization: three Scottish Islands

The sociological secularization thesis and supply-side approach to religious change are associated with competing expectations of the effects of religious diversity; decline in the former and growth in the latter. A systematic comparison of three Scottish islands from 1843 to 2011 shows that the mos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nordic journal of religion and society (NJRS)
Main Author: Bruce, Steve 1954- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Universitetsforlaget [2016]
In: Nordic journal of religion and society (NJRS)
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Scotland / Secularism / Religiosity / Homogeneity / Diversity
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
CB Christian life; spirituality
CD Christianity and Culture
KBF British Isles
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
Volltext (doi)
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Summary:The sociological secularization thesis and supply-side approach to religious change are associated with competing expectations of the effects of religious diversity; decline in the former and growth in the latter. A systematic comparison of three Scottish islands from 1843 to 2011 shows that the most diverse also saw the greatest decline in religiosity. However, the unusual circumstances of Lewis suggest a partial reconciliation of supply-side and secularization approaches. That the people of Lewis remained religious while those of Orkney and Shetland secularized with the rest of Scotland shows that a de facto religious establishment can benefit from the energy and commitment normally associated with sects competing in a voluntary system.
ISSN:0809-7291
Contains:Enthalten in: Nordic journal of religion and society (NJRS)
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.18261/issn.1890-7008-2016-01-01