The Role of Religion in Modern Societies [Paperback]

Does modernization lead to the decline of religion? This question lies at the centre of a key debate in the sociology of religion. During the past decade American scholars, using primarily American data, have dominated this debate and have made a strong case that the answer to this question is no. Recently, however, a new crop of European scholars, working with new sources of European data, have uncovered evidence that points toward an affirmative answer.

This volume pays special attention to these trends and developments to provide the reader with a more well-rounded understanding of the many ways in which religion interacts with modernization. Respected scholars such as David Voas, Steve Bruce and Anthony Gill examine modern societies across the world in this splendid book which will interest sociologists, political scientists, historians, and theologians in equal measure.

List of Tables

List of Graphs

Preface

Detlef Pollack and Daniel Olson

Chapter 1: Introduction: Religious Change in Modern Societies- Perspectives Offered By the Sociology of Religion

Detlef Pollack

Section One: The secularization theory: Classical assumptions and ramifications

Chapter 2: The Continuing Secular Transition

David Voas

Chapter 3: God, Gaelic and Needlepoint: Religion as a Social Accomplishment

Steve Bruce

Chapter 4: Religion in Central and Eastern Europe: Was There a Re-awakening After the Breakdown of Communism?

Olaf M?ller

Section Two: The market model: Classical assumptions and ramifications

Chapter 5: Quantitative Evidence Favoring and Opposing the Religious Market Model

Daniel Olson