Religious Observance
{{refimprove|date=June 2013}}
Religious Observance includes all overt kinds of religious behavior. Research in this area shows the extent and patterning of religious activities in various populations and makes it possible to test theories about the causes of religious behavior.{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/religious-observance|title=Religious Observance|publisher=encyclopedia.com|accessdate=25 October 2019}} Religious commitment is lower in countries with higher education, higher GDP and greater income equality.{{cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/2018/06/13/why-do-levels-of-religious-observance-vary-by-age-and-country//|title=Why do levels of religious observance vary by age and country?|date=13 June 2018 |publisher= Pew Research Center|accessdate=25 October 2019}}
Sociological & Psychological Factors
There are sociological and psychological sources of variation in religious observance. Sociological factors include historical trends, social class and minority groups. Psychological factors include age, sex, and personality traits. Research and studies carried out between 1900 and the present day in UK, the US and Europe shows the extent and patterning of religious activities in the population and makes it possible to test theories about the causes of religious behavior.{{cite web|url=https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/05/religion-prejudice|title=The Social Psychology of Religion, Prejudice and Intergroup Processes|publisher= American Psychological Association|accessdate=20 October 2019}}
Measures & Indexes
Religious observance may take the form of a religious element of a school morning assembly (e.g. prayers or hymn singing), a visit to a church for a service or a visit by a minister to a classroom where children are encouraged to join in prayer or are told that doctrinal material is fact, rather than it being discussed in a comparative or historical context.{{cite web|url=http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/howdoyoubuildyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/creatingaplan/religiousobservance/about/index.asp/|title=Education Scotland: Religious Observance - About|publisher=Education Scotland|accessdate=25 October 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001152333/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/thecurriculum/howdoyoubuildyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/creatingaplan/religiousobservance/about/index.asp|archivedate=1 October 2013}} Parents should have the statutory right to withdraw their child from religious observance. Some schools across Europe inform parents of this right.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/20778/53820/|title=The Scottish Government : Provision of Religious Observance in Scottish Schools|publisher=Scottish Government|accessdate=25 October 2013}}
Variations in Religious Observance
Variations raise questions of Why does A go to church while B does not? The answer involves three possible forms:{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/05/how-do-european-countries-differ-in-religious-commitment/|title=How do European countries differ in religious commitment? Use our interactive map to find out|date=5 December 2018 |publisher= Pew Research Center|accessdate=25 October 2019}}
- Social learning and group pressures
- Individual differences in personality
- Socioeconomic categories
Criticism
Whilst parents should be informed of their right to opt out of Religious Observance, a UK YouGov poll of 1000 parents found 39% of parents were not aware of their right to withdraw.{{cite web|url=http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk/content/resources/RO--RME-in-Scottish-schools-YouGov-Report.pdf|title=The Humanist Society Scotland: A Survey into Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Towards RME and Observance in Scottish Schools|publisher=The Humanist Society Scotland|accessdate=25 October 2013}} This was commissioned by the Humanist Society Scotland in April 2012. On 3 June 2013 the Scottish Secular Society launched a petition to ensure every parent gave express permission for their child to attend RO.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/gettinginvolved/petitions/religiousobservance |title=PE01487: Religious observance in schools - Getting Involved : Scottish Parliament |publisher=Scottish.parliament.uk |date= |accessdate=2013-08-17}} In 2018, the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus suggested abolishing five religious dates marked as school holidays.{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/08/07/in-swipe-at-teachers-archbishop-suggests-abolishing-five-religious-dates-marked-as-school-holidays/|title=Archbishop suggests abolishing five religious dates marked as school holidays (Update 1)|publisher=cyprus-mail.com|accessdate=25 October 2019}}{{cite journal|title=The politicisation and securitisation of religious education in Greek–Cypriot schools|journal=European Educational Research Journal|volume=18|pages=69–84|publisher=journals.sagepub.com|doi=10.1177/1474904118788990|year=2019|last1=Zembylas|first1=Michalinos|last2=Loukaidis|first2=Loizos|last3=Antoniou|first3=Marios}}{{cite web|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/08/11/a-shake-up-of-religious-education-is-centuries-overdue/|title=A shake-up of religious education is centuries overdue|publisher=cyprus-mail.com|accessdate=29 October 2019}}{{cite journal|title=The Political Function of Religious Education in an Ethnically Divided Society: Greek-Cypriot Teachers' Perspectives on Conflict, Peace, and Religious Teaching|journal=Religion & Education|volume=45|issue=2|pages=226–248|publisher= Journal of Religion & Education|doi=10.1080/15507394.2017.1419771|year=2018|last1=Zembylas|first1=Michalinos|last2=Loukaidis|first2=Loizos|last3=Antoniou|first3=Marios|last4=Antoniou|first4=Petroula}}