Ebook: The Role of Religion in Modern Societies

Front Cover; The Role of Religion in Modern Societies; Copyright Page; Contents; Tables; Figures; Preface; 1. Introduction: Religious Change in Modern Societies-Perspectives Offered by the Sociology of Religion: Detlef Pollack; Section 1: Secularization Theory: Classical Assumptions and Ramifications; 2. The Continuing Secular Transition: David Voas; 3. God, Gaelic, and Needlepoint: Religion as a Social Accomplishment: Steve Bruce; 4. Religion in Central and Eastern Europe: Was There a Re-Awakening after the Breakdown of Communism?: Olaf Müller.;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 affirmitive answer. This volume pays special attention to these trends and developments to provide the reader with a more well-rounded understanding of the many.