Secularization
Religion losing influence
Secularization is the process by which religion loses influence over public life and institutions.
A secularized society separates church from state, bases laws on secular reasoning, and treats faith as private rather than communal.
The word also describes converting religious property to non-religious use: the secularization of monasteries.
The process has accelerated in Western democracies since the Enlightenment, though its extent varies widely across cultures.
Loss of cherished belief
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- scientismOvervaluing empirical methods alone
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
skepticism · demythologization · immanence · worldliness · consumerism · individualism · relativism · Weber
Being of present times
- separationState of being apart
- church-stateReligion-government relationship
- disestablishmentWithdrawal of official status
- privatizationState sells public assets
pluralism · neutrality · public sphere · civil society · enlightenment · rationalization · differentiation · autonomy
Government acquisition of industry
- expropriationGovernment taking private property
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- confiscationSeizure by authority
- monasteriesResidences for religious brothers
church property · clerical · civil marriage · cemetery · education reform · hospital · university · charity
Decrease or refuse
- dechristianizationEliminating religious presence systematically
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- atheismRejection of deities
agnosticism · nonbelief · lapsed · unchurched · deconversion · disaffiliation · convent · religious orders
disenchantment
Loss of cherished belief
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- scientismOvervaluing empirical methods alone
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
materialism · skepticism · demythologization · immanence · worldliness · consumerism · individualism · relativism · Weber · Taylor
modernity
Being of present times
- separationState of being apart
- church-stateReligion-government relationship
- disestablishmentWithdrawal of official status
privatization · pluralism · neutrality · public sphere · civil society · enlightenment · rationalization · differentiation · autonomy · liberalism
nationalization
Government acquisition of industry
- expropriationGovernment taking private property
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- confiscationSeizure by authority
monasteries · church property · clerical · civil marriage · cemetery · education reform · hospital · university · charity · welfare state
decline
Decrease or refuse
- dechristianizationEliminating religious presence systematically
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- irreligionAbsence of faith
atheism · agnosticism · nonbelief · lapsed · unchurched · deconversion · disaffiliation · convent · religious orders · vocations
Secularizationreligious revival
Renewed collective spiritual fervor
Islamization · religious awakening · Christianization · spiritual renewal · evangelization
Secularizationsacralization
Imbuing with holiness
consecration · sanctification · spiritualization · hallowing · dedication
secularize, secularized, secularizing, secularizes, secular, secularly, secularity, secularism, secularist