Transcript Secularization

Rational Choice
Theory
Humans Are “Rational Actors” . . . we make choices
that we think are best by calculating the costs and
benefits associated with our decisions.
Components Of The
Theory
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Rational does not mean “unemotional”
Rational decisions aren’t always based on
complete information
Bad decisions might be rational decisions . . again
and again and again and again and again and again and again and again
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and again
“No decision” is still a rational decision
These decisions are made in a “sacred economy.”
Economists think this is predictable. In a small
nod to psychology, sociologists don’t agree . . . but
on very different grounds
Why Go To A Church That
Expects You . . . .
to attend bible study services every Tuesday and Thursday night
from 6-8pm
to come to prayer services on Friday for 2 hours
to spend one Saturday each month knocking on doors to tell people
about God and canvas for donations
to spend most of your Sunday in another church “meeting”
to not celebrate Christmas or Easter or Thanksgiving
to not celebrate your 13th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 30th, 50th, or any other
birthday
to let your mother die if she needs a blood transfusion
to be teased because you can’t say the pledge of allegiance in school
to abandon the right to vote for or against Obama in 2012
to disown your son if he has a child out of wedlock or goes to jail