America and Secularization (sumblog 8)

One thing that we said way back in week one when we were talking about Marx and Weber and Durkheim was that they agreed all societies would progress, and in the progression they would move away from the religious. Now looking at secularization in depth, I can agree with them to a point. I think by and large that religion as a concept won't die; change and adapt yes, but never completely be removed from society. I think looking at history and how religion had progressed it would be easy to say that society is more separated from religion, but I'd also say it serves a different role. Historically I'd say religion was the glue of society; it provided a social binding in thought, in belief and in answers for the big questions. In a more scientific age, I feel religion is still a glue but no longer in the mainstream of society. Now we can socialize in more ways than we can possibly keep up with and we turn by and large to science to answer those tantalizing questions about life. Religion is still there though, acting as a home for beliefs, a place to turn to when times get rough and a family bound by something stronger than blood.

Many religious Americans may look at where we've come from and panic from the shrinking influence of the church and its very heavy privatization. However I think secularization is the best way for these religions to hold onto their place in societies. This privatization give the people choice and freedom to come to the church and the differentiation give the church room to grow and change to fit society best. And while we may see declines in church goers it doesn't mean belief is being eradicated, just becoming more personal and done at home in a society where 5 minutes really is to much to spare.

This article goes into the secular trends in America, the big reactions to it and comes to the same conclusion; it's not inherently a bad thing. It gives religion its own space to grow and change in a society that is still growing and changing.