Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
10:04
Mating and Tetrad Separation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Genetic Analysis
Published on: August 12, 2009
Intermarriage and the demography of secularization
1Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield.
The British Journal of Sociology
|May 15, 2003
Summary
English religious affiliation is declining, with less than half the nation now Anglican. This trend is linked to changes in religious transmission and interfaith marriage, impacting secularization.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Religion
- Demography
Background:
- Religious affiliation is often measured by rites of initiation, such as baptism.
- Historical data indicates a shift in religious transmission patterns around the Second World War.
Observation:
- For the first time, less than half of the English population is Anglican by baptismal criterion.
- Baptism transitioned from a near-universal practice to an optional choice, primarily for parents with matching religious identities.
Findings:
- Religious affiliation loss is increasingly associated with interfaith marriage, though this varies between the USA and Europe.
- A demographic theory of advanced secularization is proposed, identifying causes for declining religious affiliation and predicting future trends.
- Higher religious diversity correlates with faster declines in affiliation.
Implications:
- The outlined theory provides a framework for understanding and predicting secularization.
- It highlights the role of interfaith marriage and religious diversity in shaping religious affiliation over time.
Related Concept Videos
01:49Law of Segregation
When crossing pea plants, Mendel noticed that one of the parental traits would sometimes disappear in the first generation of offspring, called the F1 generation, and could reappear in the next generation (F2). He concluded that one of the traits must be dominant over the other, thereby causing masking of one trait in the F1 generation. When he crossed the F1 plants, he found that 75% of the offspring in the F2 generation had the dominant phenotype, while 25% had the recessive phenotype.
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:22Applications of Life Tables
Life tables are versatile across various fields, providing a quantitative basis for analyzing mortality and survival rates. Whether used by demographers, actuaries, epidemiologists, or sociologists, life tables offer valuable insights into the dynamics of life and death, facilitating informed decisions in public health, insurance, conservation, and beyond. Their broad applicability highlights the interconnectedness of demographic data with practical outcomes in everyday life and strategic...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
01:29Close Relationships and Culture
Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...