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The Sociology of the Sunday Assembly: ‘Belonging Without Believing’ in a Post- Christian Context Josh BULLOCK

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The Sociology of the Sunday Assembly: ‘Belonging Without Believing’ in a Post- Christian Context Josh BULLOCK The Sociology of the Sunday Assembly: ‘Belonging Without Believing’ in a Post- Christian Context Josh BULLOCK The thesis is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology. Kingston University London Submitted September 2017 Acknowledgements This research would not have been possible without the participants who volunteered to be interviewed about their experiences of attending the Sunday Assembly and for welcoming me into their homes. Furthermore, I would like to express gratitude towards the Sunday Assembly London and the wider Sunday Assembly community for making me always feel welcome. Additionally, it would not have been possible without the permission of and support from Sanderson Jones (co-founder), who allowed me early on to gain access to the Sunday Assembly and research it from an ethnographic perspective. I would not have been able to research the Sunday Assembly without the financial support of a part-funded scholarship provided by Kingston University. This scholarship allowed me to move to London to start my research. Special mention goes to my principal supervisor, Dr Sylvia Collins-Mayo. My PhD has been a series of amazing experiences and I wish to thank Dr Collins-Mayo not only for her incredible academic guidance, but also for allowing me to grow independently as a researcher and providing constant support and encouragement. I also wish to express profound gratitude to my secondary supervisor, Dr Sonya Sharma, who has equally provided incredible guidance throughout the course of my studies. I would like to thank Professor Basia Spalek, who was part of my supervisory team during my first year. Professor Spalek helped me form the foundations of my research. Furthermore, I am grateful to the staff at Kingston University for warmly welcoming me into a thriving research community. Thanks go to Professor Vron Ware for her efforts in creating a successful postgraduate community, and to Professor David Herbert for helping to create future opportunities for me, post-PhD life. I would also like to thank Dr Lois Lee, the Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network (NSRN), the ‘PhD room’, along with close friends from Bristol and London. i As with the academic participants above, this PhD would not have been possible without the support of my loving family, my sister Jodie and my parents, Lyn and Bob Bullock. My parents have always provided unbelievable support in every possible way. To my Mum, who has read every single word that has made it into this PhD, and the countless words that were stripped out. To my dad, who tells everyone he meets in Bristol about his son's research. I would like to dedicate this research to my grandma, who sadly is unable to see me submit my thesis, but who was certain beyond measure that ‘they must like you’ when I would tell her about all of the adventures my PhD took me on, and the opportunities presented by my supervisors and Kingston University. Finally, but by no means least, I would like to thank my fiancée, Danielle Crockford, who moved to London with me with just four weeks’ notice after my PhD proposal got accepted. Leaving her family, friends and job behind to selflessly allow me to follow my dream, for her constant support throughout the duration of my PhD, living every minute of it, there are really no words… ii Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted for the award of a higher degree elsewhere. Signed: Parts of this thesis appear in revised form in the following publications: Bullock, J. (2017) Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network (NSRN) ‘Belonging Without Believing?’ Available from: https://nsrn.net/2017/09/08/belonging-without-believing/ [Accessed 13th September 2017]. iii Abstract The Sunday Assembly, a secular congregation with the motto ‘Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More’, took centre stage in the nonreligious marketplace in 2013. Since then, over 70 franchised global congregations have opened their doors to the nonreligious affiliated market. If Britain is displaying how religions can fade, the Sunday Assembly becomes the perfect case study to examine what comes next. This thesis is an ethnographic study of the Sunday Assembly London and utilises 35 semi-structured interviews with members of the congregation. It addresses what the Sunday Assembly reveals about believing, belonging and community, and their relationship with religion, secularisation and wonder. The study highlights generational trends towards nonreligion in the UK and, in particular, how the Sunday Assembly uses existing religious structures, rituals and practices to flourish. It is through this post-Christian transition that religion is understood as a chain of memory (Hervieu-Léger, 2000); that people are still seeking to belong, but do not wish to believe in a religious doctrine, thus ‘belonging without believing’ is transpiring. I argue that the demographic profile of Sunday Assembliers is homogeneous, with similar life experiences and values, the majority of whom once held a religious belief and now do not, are not hostile towards religion, are from the same ethnic group (white British), are typically middle class and seek to congregate, and thus represent a very different nonreligion estranged from its ‘New Atheist’ predecessors. The growth and initial demand of and for the Sunday Assembly indicate that a Christian culture still exists and the congregational community structure is still sought in a post-Christian transition. By rejecting Christianity, but with a heritage of Christian memory still persisting, the Sunday Assembly offers a suitable alternative to a congregational religious community. The Sunday Assembly warrants attention in the 21st century as it offers explanations to the changing nature of the religious landscape and nonreligious discourse in the West. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. i Declaration ............................................................................................................................ iii Abstract ................................................................................................................................. iv INTRODUCING A SOCIOLOGY OF THE SUNDAY ASSEMBLY Rationale ................................................................................................................................ 1 Nonreligion in England and Wales ........................................................................................ 2 Nonreligion in Europe ........................................................................................................... 5 Nonreligion in the US ............................................................................................................ 5 Nonreligion in the Rest of the World .................................................................................... 6 Profile of the ‘Nones’ ............................................................................................................ 7 Research Questions ................................................................................................................ 8 Order of Chapters ................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE: RELIGION, SECULARISATION AND THE POST- CHRISTIAN Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 14 Religion ................................................................................................................................ 14 The Problems With Defining Key Terms ............................................................................ 19 Secularisation ....................................................................................................................... 23 Religion and Secularisation Post-9/11 ................................................................................. 30 Post-Christianity .................................................................................................................. 31 Religion as a Chain of Memory in a Post-Christian Context .............................................. 38 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER TWO: SUNDAY ASSEMBLY — HISTORY, ORGANISATION AND THE INTERNET The ‘New Atheist’ Movement ............................................................................................. 40 Religion of Humanity .......................................................................................................... 41 Secular Humanism ............................................................................................................... 42 New Unity London .............................................................................................................. 43 Houston Oasis ...................................................................................................................... 43 School of Life ...................................................................................................................... 44 The Sea of Faith ................................................................................................................... 44 Morning Gloryville .............................................................................................................
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