The Decline Methodism of an analysis of religious commitment and organisation in fulfillment the A thesis presented of for the degree doctor requirements of of philosophy. by uni 4ý D. S. Turner -VII , of Social Studies Department University Leeds. of 1970 This thesis is dedicated to nr wife. 4 rs r; t. Table Contents of er Preface Part 1: ReliPious Commitment 1. Contemporary Problems in Sociology Religion of - for the reasons research. Pages 1. 13. - 2. A Definition Religion Religious of Commitment. and Pages 14.. 42. - 3. Methodology the Research. of Tables 3: 1 3: 16 - 82. Pages 43. - Belief. 4. Religious Tables 431 4: 9 - 83. 112. Pages - 5. Religious Practice from Virtuoso to Mass Religion. - Tables 5: 1 5: 8 - 143. Pages 113. - 6. Experience. Religious 6: 1. 6: 8. Tables - 177. Pages 144. - Part 21 Religious Organization Religious Organizations. 7. Theories of 178. 205. Pages - Socialization Conversion. 8. Recruitment and - 8: 1 8: 16. Tables - 239 206. Pages - Discord in Modern Methodism 9. Ecumenism - 240. 261. Pages - 10. Size Church Religious Commitment. of and Tables 10: 1 10: 12 - Pages 262. 197" - Part 3: Comparison Conclusion and 11. The Herberg Thesis in Cross-cultural Perspective. 8 Tables 110 1 -'11: Pages 298. 326. - 12. The Decline Methodism Conclusion. of - Pages 327. 347. - Appendix 1. Questionnaire Follow-up Letters. and Pages 348. 378. - Appendix 2. Bibliography. Pages 379. 391. - i Preface Samuel Johnson literature "It is how little once said of amazing there is in the Like Johnson's world". any aphorism worth of recall, both truth falsity. The complaint contains a great measure of and of truth Johnson's be the of amazement must a very common experience of it has been to sociological researcher and certainly a problem plague the I have the last four One is research carried out over years. hypotheses for there continually working with assumptions and whic3g are insufficient data: theories, questions remain unanswered, unproven. is frequently Historical, sociological, contemporary evidence narrow, to the hand. suspect or partially relevant problems at The to the field the aphorism, when applied of sociology of religion, is largely false. A deceptively the also simple question about strength Church the Methodist in England leads to increasing of questions of ever the historical development Methodism, British complexity about of about in the the society, about religion social structure, about nature of man his in the A leads to broad and place universe. simple question a The horizon between the of problems and uncertainties. contrast researcher's limited, knowledge his faulty the specialized and skills and vastness of the best, humility, doubt. subject matter creates, at at worst, a crippling ii As this disquieting the a result of complexity and richness, sociologist definitions his who probably started research with clear-cut of role finds himself "fallen theologians" David not only among secular as - Martin has but fallen historians, observed among economists, philoso- - logicians. The interaction these phers, methodologists and of specialisms The is 'both threatening. exciting and subject matter of sociology becomes blurred the indistinct. He and sociologist's self-conception finds himself the knowledge data relying on and of other specialists in disciplines. The danger is that his in these other performance other domains be less than It is to be'expected, therefore, may amateurish. that the theologian that Wesleyan theology will complain my account of has dogmatic the historian, that condensed a multitude of subtelties; treatment history is My my of ecclesiastical and social cavalier. defence be that I have least listened to their must at attentively com- that I theologian historian that intentions plaints; am neither nor and my have lain elsewhere. - The implicit the thesis is the in subject of problem of religion industrial Given the data, the a modern, society. nature of my explicit is the decline the Wesleyan the decline the' subject of ethos and of Church. Methodist In I have to Methodism addition, attempted compare in England America. and The the decline Methodism is two analysis of of conducted at iii theoretical levels. In the thesis, the first theoretical part one of is level that the`. is the of social actor and concerned with nature of belief, In this religious practice and experience. case, religious decline is departure from the Method- conceived as a early standards of ism. In two thesis, the theoretical level-is that, part ofthe second At this level to the. of social organization. attention'switches ` - One organisational problems of recruitment and ecumenicalism. aspect decline is the failure to of organizational recruit new members and the inability to integrate "either'in splinter groups, which emerge. op- to The final the- position or-in. support of ecumenicalism. part of thesis Methodism in America compares contemporary and-Britain and , discussion decline Methodism., provides concluding of"the of Fortunately, the lone in`the domain sociologist of-research is He has both fellow problems and uncertainties a myth. mentors and travellors. In I heavily indebted to my research, am my supervisors, Dr. A. P. M. Coxon Mr. R. Towler for their interest and guidance, and Chapters 2,5 9 have benefitted from encouragement. and enjoyable Mr. M. Hill. I to Mr. B. Foster, Mr. R. collaboration with am grateful Stark, Dr. J. Kent Dr. T. Ling for their and comments on and criticism drafts the thesis. For their to Methodism of early of permission study in Leeds their full the I indebted to and support of research, am Turner. Revs. W. Walker Lee, John Banks J. M. My and colleagues and Aberdeen have but students at made an unwitting, significant contribution iv kiýý to. the-last thesis. My deepest is stages of-the appreciation for my. wife's-patience and sanity. sr lappe'ared Finally, important"sections the thesis have in of B. Turner "Institutional`Fersistence and Ecumenicalism. in Northern 'Martin"(ed. ) Methodism" in D, A Sociological Yearbook'öf Religion in Britain, 2,1969; M. Hill B. Turner "The Laity Church and and Unity", New Christian, B. Turner, "Belief, Ritual:: °93,1969; and-,, Experience: the Methodism", Social Compass, 26,1969. case of Other the to in B. Turner "Diacord aspects of research are appear in Modern Methodism", Proceedings the Wesley Historical Society, of 38,1970; M. Hill B. Turner "John Wesley the Origins and and and (ed. ) Decline Ascetic Devotionalism" in M. Hill A Sociological of (forthcoming). Yearbook'of Religion in Britain 'a - ýý. ,. i ý. y 'ýý v .w . e _ .. r. tý ' ý, ý ;- ... Errata f" ý1 r°r s - Preface ýýr. ý; ýý .., i. "worth"" p. " worthy ii,. "subtelties" °-'" " p. subtleties", "denominätlonanal" denominational P. vii. "ineficiency" inefficiency p. vii. Chapter 1. (Am. 1 "chequered" in p. checkered sp. - Glock) 3 "unproblematic" X p. unproblematic - :r1 6 "familialism" "familialism" p. - 7 "(auasociologist)" (qua p. sociologist) - 9 "if" is p. - Chapter 2. 9 "soziologei" p. soziologie - 14 "though",. thought p. - 17 "! p. ulitmatereality" ultimate reality p. as - ., 1ä "proceeding". P. preceding, - 18 "As" P. as - 21 "permissable" p. permissible - 21 "faiclited" facilitated p. - 21 "ex p. aple" example - ý. gi 22 "twoards" - p. towards' 22 "experiences" experience p. 22 "Belief" p; belief' 26 "compreshensive" p. comprehensive 30 "unchangin" = unchanging p: 30 "Buddihms"' = p: Buddhism 38 "werecollected". = collected Po were 40 "wolliness" p. - woolliness - 42 "boudarics"' p. boundaries - Chapter 3. 44' "ofr" P. for 47 "haveing" = P. having 47 "sixe"` = " P. size. 52 "difinitions" = Pe definitions 53 "n'ture" P" nature "divices" 55 p. devices 57 "to" '- P. too 60 "survey" = p. surveys' '62 "compormise" p. compromise Charter--4. 84 insert="emphasize" p. 84 "reaced" p. reacted 85"romoved" removed p. 7 ' r; 86" "In" in .