Discussing the Theory Modernization as a Cause of Secularization

Secularisation theory has argued that modernisation has undermined religion. The importance of science and technology on economic development and rational worldview on which they depend on are seen as destroying the belief in supernatural. However religion can contribute to development, but most recently sociologists have examined what role religion may play in development in today’s globalising world.

Assess the view that religion is a major source of instability and conflict in society today

Today’s world is all about decisions. Should we get that new television? What about that new iPhone? Maybe the new Apple Watch? Notice how none of those questions had to deal with anything transcendent or in relation to God. Rather these questions focused on the material items that are available practically at the snap of one’s fingers. There is a lack of religious authority in cultural and social organizations in the modern society that we live in. Charles Taylor, in A Secular Age, focuses on showing that God is still present in our secular society, even when it seems as if He is removed. Taylor gives three separate understandings of secularization: separation between state and church with the movement of corporate practices without God, more

This work investigates the implications of theories of global change for the study of religion generally and, through a series of case studies, applications of those theories to specific religious movements. In particular, Beyer is interested in the seeming contradiction of the persistence of conflict between social units within a globalizing world that is more and more becoming a "single place." The first half of his book, the introduction and four chapters, is taken up with theoretical definitions of religion as a social system and the position of that social system with regard to other systems. The second half of the book, five chapters, explores applications of Beyer’s theorizing to a wide range of world religious particularities.

Author, Reginald Bibby, has written three books to date, this will be the fourth and latest work published. From having seen Canada’s religious developments through a secular lens, several scholars thought for the most part reasons behind the decline were clear and obvious. This is not the case, and is what the author tries to show here. After one prominent scholar named Stark opened up new data to the author it gave him his new books idea: reality of religious polarization. Now everything is more clear and focused through this polarization lens. The book is then divided up into 9 chapters, all very informative, focusing on all aspects to those who are religious, aren’t religious, good news and bad news.

Sociologists argue that in Britain, there has been an overall steady decline in the importance of religion since the 19th century, which has led some sociologists to suggest there was a ‘golden age’ of religiosity. Many sociologists have proposed explanations for the secularisation thesis, for example Weber, Berger and Bruce. However Postmodernists criticise the secularisation theory as they believe that religion hasn’t declined it has just become modernised. Other theories, such as religious market theory and existential security theory, also go against the view that Britain is becoming a secular society as they believe religion takes form in

Robert Audi argues that citizens in a free democracy should make a difference between religion and between secular aspects or state and give them two separate domains. The one has nothing to do with the other and for each to be functioning well and for the state to be functioning effectively; religious convictions should be separated from political debate.

There are many methodological problems with measuring whether religion has become privatized, on of these problems is that ‘ how do you measure how many religious organisations there are?’ this is a problem because it is near impossible to count every single religious organisation in the world because of the amount of cults and sects that exist that not everybody may know about. Sociologists argue that there has been a decrease on the number of religious organisations, and therefore religious belief is decreasing, but they do not take into account that it may not be religious belief that is declining, but that lack of funding has meant that the religious beliefs could not remain forcing people into practise privately, Also, how do you define what a religious organisation is. Another problem with measuring whether religion has become privatised is that you can’t know what people are thinking, just because they don’t visit a religious organisation, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not religious, they may just not have the time to visit the organisation so instead use things like televangelism to practise at home. Also, just because people don’t attend religious organisations often, Stark and Bainbridge believe that the decline in traditional religions has created a demand for newer religions, this includes new age

To some extent it could be argued that the U.S is a less secularized country than Australia. However, with research as evidence it can be argued that the U.S is to the same extent as secularized as Australia. Both countries prohibit the religions from having any influence on the state by having a true separation. With the number of people believing in a religion constantly changing, it is evident that it has become stronger in the public sphere and that there is a strong connection between education and welfare levels of a country and it’s religious outlook.

The textbook rightly points out the secularism and pluralism dominates many aspects of this worldly culture. This has been reflected in many different ways. Much of America has lost belief in a divine creator, which has moved us down a path of no foundation for order. Second, modern thought has instilled a sense of individual achievement and a loss of a moral conscience where our moral norms are absent of religion. Finally, as we have progressed in modern society, these effects have lead to a fragile secular

To continue with secularism, Wuthnow frames secularism as a threat. That if we remove religion people will be motivated by power, money, and consumerism and that a list of terrible things would happen (294). I could not disagree more. First, this ignores the fact that power, money, and consumerism plays a large role in religious institutions since time immemorial. Second, the list of religiously motivated crimes is great. Further, no one – as far as I know – ever killed someone because they believed their scientific method superior to another and no war ever waged based on the absence of a belief in God. How diverse and pluralistic can a society be if it is willing to see those that do not follow the framework a threat with a dangerous agenda?

In our days we percieve for the advace secularism- the ausence of God in the structure of our society, a society that finishes seting or putting God "in parentesis"

We need to pay close attention to the effects of secularism: confining the role of religion to the private domain of the individual and creating a dichotomy between "religious" and "worldly," between "private" and "public." It denies religion and its mediating institutions any public function and influence in shaping matters of public policy.

Berger defines secularization as the process by which sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols. Removal of religion from social structures refers to the separation of the church from the state, and the emancipation of education from religious authority. Removal from the cultural sector refers to the separation of religion from art, philosophy and literature, and the rise of science. (107)He states that the process has a subjective manifestation as well, the secularization of individuals consciousness.(108) This construction of the secularization process presents a linear, reductive process where the world departs from “nomos” into “anomy”. Nomos is defined as the laws and customs which enable a sense of connection and meaning, a world where religion and everyday life exists together as part of the cosmos. Anomy is described as a sense of separation from the world, the absence of nomos characterized by chaos. (slides). Secularization is bought about by the shrinkage in the

Religious Fundamentalism is not a modern phenomenon, although, there has received a rise in the late twentieth century. It occurs differently in different parts of the world but arises in societies that are deeply troubled or going through a crisis (Heywood, 2012, p. 282). The rise in Religious Fundamentalism can be linked to the secularization thesis which implies that victory of reason over religion follows modernization. Also, the moral protest of faiths such as Islam and Christianity can be linked to the rise of Religious Fundamentalism, as they protest the influence of corruption and pretence that infiltrate their beliefs from the spread of secularization (Heywood, 2012, p. 283). Religious Fundamentalists have followed a traditional