Church going as a social process : a study of three Methodist churches in the Edinburgh and and Forth Methodist circuit
This thesis explores some of the reasons why people attend one of three churches in the Edinburgh and Forth Circuit of the Methodist Church. It is an attempt to follow the life histories of a group of participants from their earliest recollections of ever being in a church through to the present day and to examine why they continued to go to church at various significant stages within their own life cycles. The point of departure for the Thesis is a practical concern about why people chose to be associated with one particular church building and congregation and when, how and why they reassess previous decisions and actions. Existing approaches to this problem are examined with particular emphasis on two Scottish research projects. The current debate about the theory of secularization is examined with reference to the contribution of Wilson, Luckmann, Berger and Martin. Secularization is an area of socio-religious concern which impinges upon any notion of the significance of church going within a life style and life cycle. The organisation of the Methodist Church is described inorder to outline the hierarchical structure of the church and to explain the meaning and significance of the range of offices within
Hill, Michael John
Philosophy
Church going as a social process : a study of three Methodist churches in the Edinburgh and and Forth Methodist circuit. This thesis explores some of the reasons why people attend one of three churches in the Edinburgh and Forth Circuit of the Methodist Church. It is an attempt to follow the life histories of a group of participants from their earliest recollections of ever being in a church through to the present day and to examine why they continued to go to church at various significant stages within their own life cycles. The point of departure for the Thesis is a practical concern about why people chose to be associated with one particular church building and congregation and when, how and why they reassess previous decisions and actions. Existing approaches to this problem are examined with particular emphasis on two Scottish research projects. The current debate about the theory of secularization is examined with reference to the contribution of Wilson, Luckmann, Berger and Martin. Secularization is an area of socio-religious concern which impinges upon any notion of the significance of church going within a life style and life cycle. The organisation of the Methodist Church is described inorder to outline the hierarchical structure of the church and to explain the meaning and significance of the range of offices within
church social_process study methodist church edinburgh forth methodist circuit explores reason people attend church edinburgh forth circuit methodist church attempt follow life_history group participant earliest recollection ever church examine continue church various significant stage within life_cycle point_departure practical concern people chose associate one_particular church_building congregation reassess previous decision action existing approach_problem examine particular_emphasis scottish project current_debate theory secularization examine_reference wilson martin secularization area socio_religious concern upon notion significance church within life style life_cycle organisation methodist church describe outline hierarchical structure church explain mean_significance range office within