Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity
This paper explores the timeliness and relevance of secularization theories in Europe. It seeks to understand how the classical theories of secularization—rationalization, societalization, functional differentiation, and existential security—and their theoretical innovations—namely, cultural diversi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/423 |
| _version_ | 1797609202586222592 |
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| author | Jorge Botelho Moniz |
| author_facet | Jorge Botelho Moniz |
| author_sort | Jorge Botelho Moniz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper explores the timeliness and relevance of secularization theories in Europe. It seeks to understand how the classical theories of secularization—rationalization, societalization, functional differentiation, and existential security—and their theoretical innovations—namely, cultural diversity—help describe religious phenomena in a specific set of European countries—Austria, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain. In this context, cultural diversity shows the strongest negative correlation with religiosity. These findings arise from the correlation between the different theories of secularization, the independent variables, and an index of religiosity, the dependent variable. Cultural diversity, as a good predictor to explain secularization in Europe, shows how contact with different religious and non-religious worldviews enhances a mutual fragilization that can lead individuals from uncertainty to the rejection of religious beliefs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:58:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ed36d3a72be406aa6b6d80f34ee9bb8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:58:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ed36d3a72be406aa6b6d80f34ee9bb82023-11-17T13:37:27ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-03-0114342310.3390/rel14030423Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural DiversityJorge Botelho Moniz0Faculty of Social Sciences, Education and Administration, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisbon, PortugalThis paper explores the timeliness and relevance of secularization theories in Europe. It seeks to understand how the classical theories of secularization—rationalization, societalization, functional differentiation, and existential security—and their theoretical innovations—namely, cultural diversity—help describe religious phenomena in a specific set of European countries—Austria, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain. In this context, cultural diversity shows the strongest negative correlation with religiosity. These findings arise from the correlation between the different theories of secularization, the independent variables, and an index of religiosity, the dependent variable. Cultural diversity, as a good predictor to explain secularization in Europe, shows how contact with different religious and non-religious worldviews enhances a mutual fragilization that can lead individuals from uncertainty to the rejection of religious beliefs.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/423secularizationcultural diversityEurope |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Botelho Moniz Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity Religions secularization cultural diversity Europe |
| title | Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity |
| title_full | Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity |
| title_fullStr | Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity |
| title_short | Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity |
| title_sort | secularization in europe causes consequences and cultural diversity |
| topic | secularization cultural diversity Europe |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/3/423 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgebotelhomoniz secularizationineuropecausesconsequencesandculturaldiversity |