SOCI 326 1st Edition Lecture 8Secularization theoryWhat is secularization Transformation of society involving:Greater institutional differentiation Rational, utilitarian worldview Classical secularization theory: Founding fathers See saw model of secularization‐ Modern > decline of religion‐ Founding fathers Weber: rationality led to disenchantment of the world More and more scientific reasoning, religion would be lesspersuasive Religion would not disappear but the overall long term trendwould be decline Durkheim: increasing division of labor > decline of traditional‐religion Marx: contradictions of capitalism > undermine religious belief‐ Peter Berger, The Sacred Canopy Pluralism > Religious Decline‐ Prior to modernization religion provided a set of beliefs thatcould be universally shared by all of society and that wouldprotect everyone from the secularization of society Modern society: heretical imperative Choice is not only an option but is required Undermines religious authority & plausibility Ascription/achievement What is an ascribed status? A status that you're born withI.e. race, gender,… ect Is religion an ascribed status? It can be both What is an achieved status? A status earned by some sort of achievement Critics of classical Secularization theory Critics: Religion (at individual level) is vital & not disappearing Christian Smith Religion is not longer a sacred canopy but a "sacred umbrella" Social conflict was crucial to the development and cohesiveness ofevangelicals Rebuilding secularization theory Mark Chaves Secularization as declining scope of religious authorityReligious authority narrows over time Chaves Secularization: can be slowed, stopped, or reversed Secularization can be seen at: Societal Institutional differentiation The separation of different spheres Not likely for this trend to be reversed OrganizationalInternal secularization Secularization of higher education Most private universities began as religioussponsored institutions All are now secularized however No top rated colleges have strong religiousidentification Individual Middletown studies Between 1931 1971: decline in belief that‐christianity is one true religion and all should beconverted 75 53% that believed the bible held all‐answers during this time20 50% increase in the acceptance in‐evolution Conclusion Classical secularization theoyr See saw model of Secularization‐ Weber, Durkheim, & Marx Berger & Sacred Canopy Chaves & Secularization as declining scope of religious
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