CH 5: The Secularization Thesis and its Challenges

"De-moralization"

A significant problem, according to Wilson As "societalization" progresses, societies de-emphasize the importance of teaching a common, shared moral worldview - the one that formed the foundations of society Instead, societies teach people the importance of skills training and individualist patterns of expression, which are necessary to compete in a rational-legal world As a result, societalization ends up fragmenting societies, thus undermining their stability and worsening their chances of surviving challenges or crises. We no longer do what's right because we know it's right; we do what's right because we've been trained to follow rules (without understanding them)

Steve Bruce's theory of secularization

A society that is both pluralistic and individualistic (like North American societies, and Western European societies) is a society that will disadvantage religious organizations The more pluralistic a society, the lower the rates of church attendance and participation in religious life Not only are traditional religious groups in decline, but New Age religions seem to be a passing fad as well (according to Bruce) When people stop attending church, they tend to stop being religious at all.

Challenge one: Pluralism

As societies become more culturally and ethnically heterogeneous, traditional patterns of religious life came into contact with other expressions of religion It's hard to claim an absolute monopoly on moral & spiritual truth when there's a different faith setting up shop across the street telling people otherwise The presence of these other religious communities undermined the social power of religious organizations in general, and non religious - even atheist - voices could emerge from the cracks

Creationism in America

Can be seen as a debate between competing understandings of society: fundamentally religious, or fundamentally secular? Debates tend to revolve around the question "Where should the tenets of creationism/evolution be taught to children?" Creationists: evolution is a lie and public schools shouldn't teach it, or should teach it alongside faith-based explanations Evolution-supporters: Creationism is a religious myth and has no explanatory power; it belongs in religious studies or history classes, not science.

The "Wedge" Document

Developed by the Discovery Institute Designed to undermine public confidence in science The ultimate goal was to replace the secular, scientific worldview with one that reflected Christian ideals and values After the document was leaked, the Discovery Institute tried to disavow it, but the damage to the group's legitimacy was done

"Societalization"

Occurs when communities, individuals and organizations are drawn together into complex relationships that emphasize role differentiation, interdependency, and rationalization (again, echoes of Durkheim here) Societalization is what happens when cultures move from Gemeinschaften to Geselschaften

Challenge Two: Privatization

Religion ceases to be seen as a public good or public concern and instead becomes a "private matter" If religion is private, then it has no business in the public sphere, so the central position of religious institutions is called into question

Challenges to Secularization Theses

Religiosity in the United States has remained stable over time Explosive growth in New Religious Movements at a time when all religious groups should have been on the decline If religion is declining, why is it still so important in political life, in the United States and elsewhere? Some observers (Fink and Stark, for example) have noted that despite the high degree of modernization in America, people seem to have become more religious. Despite the claims of New Atheists, there appears to be little correlation between scientific beliefs and continued religious beliefs Critics of the thesis point out that just because a person isn't physically attending a church doesn't mean they're not taking part in religious communities. Critics point out that many secularization theorists seem to think that the process is irreversible The privatization of religion seems to be a reversing trend, at least right now (Look at how common it is to see Christian clergy publicly denouncing abortion in American society, for example).

Gesselschaft

"Modern society". Networks of impersonal associations; highly specialized and differentiated labour; contractual relationships over personal connections based on shared values; emphasis on individualism and rationalisation

Wilson's Theory of Secularization

"The process by which religious institutions, actions, and consciousness, lose their social significance... The decline in the significance of religion in the operation of the social system, its diminished significance in social consciousness, and its reduced command over the resources (time, energy, skill, intellect, imagination, and accumulated wealth) of mankind" Concerned with societal and individual levels (macro and micro) of secularization - like Berger - but with some differences Just because we are secularizing doesn't mean that there was a "golden age" of religion before Wilson is concerned that increased secularization will lead to the "de-moralizing" of society Rates of secularization - while related to modernization and industrialization - are variable depending on social context

Berger's theory of Secularization

"The process by which sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols" Argued that this is largely the result of industrialization and the fragmentation of public life (what Durkheim would call the emergence of Organic Solidarity) As societies grow larger (both in terms of geographic space and population), they also develop a wider division of labour Resulted in the emergence of specialized public and private institutions to take care of the needs of workers (e.g. education systems, healthcare, social safety nets, etc.)

Gemeinschaft

"Traditional society". Typified by a relative lack of differentiation; communities had a shared set of values rooted in an understanding of the "numinous"

Principle factors in decline of religion (2)

1) Structural Differentiation - Fragmentation of social life - Decentering of religious institutions in that life 2) Social Differentiation - New economic realities demand that people move around a lot - Fewer paper remain in their hometowns and communities - Urban living tends to make it hard to form communities of shared value

Bruce's definition of religion put simply

Bruce's argument in favour of secularization relies on a definition of religion that includes as a necessary condition the existence of a discernable religious community built around shared values, shared belief, and a shared community of practice. Without these criteria, a person's beliefs aren't truly religious and therefore, cannot be counted as an expression of religion in any sociological fashion.

The results of Societalization?

Increased rates of selfishness, bad manners, crime, violence, bullying, etc.

Societal, Organizational, and Individual Secularization

It is widely recognized now that the process of secularization encompasses three separate but related sets of social changes with regard to religion, and changes at one level may not be matched at the other. For example, while the influence of religious institutions in society may be lessening in obvious ways individuals may still be very fervent int heir beliefs and practices. consequently, sociologists must be careful to designate the kind of secularization they are talking about at any time.

Spiritual Warfare

Recasting the crisis of public faith as one of Religion (The Good Guys) being attacked by the demonic forces behind secularization (The Bad Guys)

Individual Secularization

Religion becomes less important to a person's day-to-day life and activities Over time, people engage in fewer religious rituals or practices People feel more comfortable expressing doubt or disbelief

Societal Secularization

Religious explanations for world events or social structures are less important Religious institutions are seen as less necessary than before Religious explanations hold less appeal & religious institutions lose social prestige or credibility

"Neo-Orthodoxy"

Religious groups double-down on their core tenets as a way of solidifying their core support

Abandonment of group experience

in favour of the "lone practitioner" model (e.g. non-denominational "street preachers"); ultimately exacerbates the crisis of legitimacy of religious institutions

"Moral Modernization"

reconfiguring their moral teachings to take into account contemporary sensibilities (e.g. reinterpreting the Bible as a series of allegories and metaphors, rather than as an inerrant, literal word of God)