CAPE

(CARlBBEAN ADVANCED PROFlClENCY EXAMlNATlON

20l3)
CARlBBEAN STUDlES
UNlT 2
An investigation [into] the secularization of values and worship
among parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Kimberlee Laloo
Naparima Girls High School
Trinidad and Tobago
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
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CAPE CARlBBEAN STUDlES
AC K NOWL E DGE ME NT S
l take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my guide
teacher, Ms. Fariah Hyatali for her exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant
encouragement throughout the course of this lnternal Assessment. The blessing, help and
guidance given by her [from] time to time shall carry me a long way in the journey of life on
which l am about to embark.
l also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to the Principal and
Vice Principal of Naparima Girls' High School for their cordial support, valuable resources and
guidance, which were of great assistance in helping me to complete this task.
Lastly, l thank almighty God, my mother, dearest uncle Jazz, and my many friends for
their constant encouragement without which the completion of this assignment would not be
possible.
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CAPE CARlBBEAN STUDlES
I NT R ODUC T I ON
BACKGROUND TO PROBL EM
The most illustrious figures in sociology, anthropology, and psychology have
unanimously expressed confidence that future generations, would live to see the dawn of a
new era in which, to paraphrase [ ] Sigmund Freud, the infantile illusions of religion would be
outgrown. ln the l920s and l930s, over 90 percent of babies were baptized, but by l970
baptisms were down to 64 percent, by l990 down to 5l percent, and by 200l they had
declined to 45 percent. According to Brierley (2005), attendance at special Christian
ceremonies in England such as baptisms has seen a significant decline. This raises concerns
about the modern trend of secularization and its effects on religious practice in recent times. ln
fact, many Caribbean institutions, such as the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Trinidad
and Tobago, are currently trying to cope with this issue.
PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
The purpose of this research is to investigate and generate new knowledge regarding
the phenomenon of secularization and to determine how it affects the value systems and
worship habits among parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church through a realization
of the research objectives. lt is hoped that this research will help to clarify the meaning of
secularization, its principles and methods, and its ongoing effects on the belief and practice of
parishoners. The results of this investigation may be further used to make recommendations
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regarding the ways and means of addressing societal problems deemed to be the
consequence of this wave of secularization. As this is a preliminary investigation, it is also
hoped that this research paper may be used to engage in future systematic enquiries
regarding secularization.
STATEMENT OF PROBL EM
This research investigates into the secularization of values and worship among
parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Secularization is the dependant variable in
this study while the independent variables being explored are values and worship. The study
will conform to an lnstitutional Approach to secularization since it is delimited by the St.
Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Princes Town, Trinidad. Adult parishioners between the ages
of eighteen to fifty-five years will be under investigation in this study. [is this a qualitative or
quantitative research or both?]
RESEARCH OBJ ECTI VES
l) Does does the disengagement of the church from the wider society affect the SYSTEM
OF VALUES AND THE PRACTlCE OF WORSHlP AMONG
PARlSHlONERS OF ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERlAN CHURCH?
2) How does societalization in the form of modernization correlate to the secularization of
values and worship among parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church?
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3) ls structural differentiation a main cause for the secularization of values and worship among
parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church?
4) ln what ways have cultural renewal of the Caribbean influenced the secularization of values
and worship among parishioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church?
5) HaS THE SECULARlZATlON OF VALUES AND WORSHlP AMONG
PARlSHlONERS OF ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERlAN CHURCH
BEEN lNFLUENCED BY THE FORMATlON OF SECTS?
VAL UE OF RESEARCH STATEMENT
The data collected and analyzed in this research will be available in hardcopy so that it
can be used as a reference for future research on a similar topic. Furthermore, the statistical
information gathered could be extrapolated to update the empirical records of secularization
among Protestant churches in Trinidad and Tobago. ln addition, a copy of this research paper
would be forwarded to the target population and at large, the members of the Synod of the
Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago thereby providing feedback and a greater insight
about the secularization trends, which can be used as a source of reference to make
recommendations and decisions for finding solutions to the problem.
DEFI NI TI ON OF TECHNI CAL TERMS
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SECULARlZATlON
Secularization describes the process whereby religion
loses its influence over the various spheres of social life.
(Giddens 2008)
PRESBYTERlAN
Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways: they
adhere to a pattern of religious thought known
as Reformed theology and a form of government that
stresses the active, representational leadership of both
ministers and church members. (Presbyterian Church
U.S.A 2004)
FUNDAMENTALlSM
Fundamentalism is a discernible pattern of religious
militance by which self-styled "true believers" attempt to
arrest the erosion of religious identity, fortify the borders
of the religious community, and create viable
alternatives to secular institutions and behaviours.
(Almond et al. 2003)
ETHNOCENTRlSM
Ethnocentrism can be broadly defined as an attitude
whereby you judge other societies by the standards that
apply in your society. (http://www.sociology.org.uk/ )
CAPE CARlBBEAN STUDlES
L I T E R AT UR E R E V I E W
Secularization may be explored from many varying perspectives. However, l believe
Glock and Stark (l969) when they said, "Perhaps the most important attribute to those who
perceive secularization to be going on is their commitment to a particular view of what religion
means." Much research has been done which has lead to an accumulation of information
regarding the issue of secularization, several of which were informative and significantly
contributed to data collection.
Quantitative research performed by Martin (l969), Bruce (l995) reveals that
secularization is apparent through the disengagement of the church from the wider society due
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to its decline in power, wealth, influence and prestige. Conversely, like Casanova (l994, 2003)
l uphold the slant that there has been a deprivatization of religion. lt became apparent when
increasing attention was paid to religion by politicians, social scientists, the general public and
religious leaders who were willing to enter public and political debate with respect to conflicts
between Protestant fundamentalists and Catholics in Northern lreland. While this methodology
analyzes secularization in Britain, statistical data applicable to the Caribbean will be found
when a survey of my target population will be performed.
Steve Bruce (l995,2002) indicates through qualitative research that secularization is as
a result of increasing societalization. Just like him, l strongly agree that this is due to the
process of modernization. Evidence such as suburban people rarely mixing with their
immediate neighbours and the current upsurge in technology which seems to govern one's life,
all reinforce this theme. Moreover, like Bruce's direct observation method of conducting the
study, l shall conduct a structured interview with the reverend at the St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church so that the results of both studies can be compared later on.
Furthermore, Talcott Parsons (l965) performed a qualitative research which described
structural differentiation as a main cause for secularization. As religious institutions become
increasingly specialized, Parsons explained that their ethics and values become more
generalized. Similar to Parsons, Bruce (l995) maintained that this was due to modernization.
To Bruce, social life becomes dominated by the logic of calculability, efficiency and profit ,
causing religious faith and morality to become less and less significant in the culture and
institutions of modern societies. However, l disagree with this statement because l believe that
Parsons took an ethnocentric view of family life in this study. Parsons has looked at white,
middle class, American family life and assumed it to be an ideal model of family life which is
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applicable across Caribbean societies and cultures in which my study is based. Moreover, he
could be accused of underestimating the extent to which many religious institutions, in modern
societies, play a political role.
Honeychurch (2004) has determined that in the Caribbean there has been creolization
of mainstream religion. Therefore cultural renewal has impacted the way in which religion is
practiced. For example Voodoo in Haiti, Shango in Trinidad, Obeah in Trinidad and Pocomania
in Jamaica. Moreover, the growth cultural persistence of these religions have indicated that
even in this post-independence time and with increasing industrialization, religion still holds
relevance. This contradicts the views of Weber who argued that with growth of scientific
knowledge would decrease in religiosity. l should be noted that this article may be biased
based upon one's ethnicity.
Finally, Stark and Bainbridge (l985) have argued that sects are organizations that have
broken away from established churches because of lack of acceptance and theological
doctrine. Unfortunately, they conducted a quantitative methodology in California, USA which
makes their information inappropriate to the Caribbean setting. However, the growth of sects
and cults in the Caribbean is prevalent and can be attributed to various factors.
CAPE CARlBBEAN STUDlES
B I B L I OGR AP HY
Bruce, Steve. "Patronage and secularization: social obligation and church support." The British
Journal of Sociology 2012 63.3 (20l2): l-20. Print.
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Haralambos, Michael, and Martin Holborn. "Religion." Sociology: themes and perspectives..
4th ed. London: Collins Educational, l995. 429-445. Print.
Honeychurch, Lennox. "Lennox Honychurch Article: Caribbean Culture." Lennox onychurch!s
"ominica # art$ history$ culture % society of "ominica. Macmillan U.K., Web. l8 Sept.
20l3. <http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/article.cfm?id=382>.
Parsons, Talcott. Social structure and personality. New York: Free Press of Glencoe, l965.
Print.
Stark, Rodney, and William Sims Bainbridge. "Sect Movement." The future of religion:
seculari&ation$ revival$ and cult formation. Berkeley: University of California Press,
l985. 97-l68. Print.
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