In ‘Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society,’ three sociologists lay out a theory that can be summed up in a simple phrase: Modernization creates problems for religion.

June 6, 2023

By Yonat Shimron

(RNS) — The claim that religion is declining and giving way to secularism may not seem so controversial these days.

But it’s a relatively new one for many American sociologists who have held that the example of the United States — a modern, wealthy and industrialized nation that is also highly religious — is proof positive of religion’s staying power.

As recently as 2008, the late sociologist Peter Berger argued that the example of the United States represented “the big nail in the coffin” of the theory that modern countries are all becoming increasingly secular.

Now three sociologists have penned a primer showcasing data from around the world that proves religiosity is undeniably declining in most if not all modern industrial countries — at least when measured by beliefs (in God or the Bible), belonging (to a particular congregation) and behavior (such as church-based baptisms or weddings).

“Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society” Courtesy image

In “Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society,” Isabella Kasselstrand, Phil Zuckerman and Ryan T. Cragun lay out a theory that can be summed up in a simple phrase: “Modernization creates problems for religion.” They explain that countries that have gone through a process of “differentiation,” or the separation of religion from government, and “rationalization,” or the emphasis on modern, scientific ideals, have seen dramatic drops in the levels of religiosity.

Further, they argue that once countries undergo those processes, the likelihood that secularization can be reversed and religion regain its footing is very small. In one chapter, they examine four countries on four different continents where secularization has taken root: Chile, Norway, South Korea and the United States. Conversely, they say, countries with low levels of development and high levels of government regulation of religion are the most religious. Among them: Bangladesh, Rwanda, Yemen.

Religion News Service spoke to the three sociologists on Zoom about their book and their theory that secularization is ascendant around the world. (According to the scholars, more than a billion people around the world are now secular.) The interview was edited for length and clarity.

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