xvi, 375 pages : 23 cm

"This book develops a theory of secularization and existential security, demonstrating that the publics of virtually all advanced industrial societies have been moving toward more secular orientations during the past fifty years, but also that the world as a whole now has more people with traditional religious views than ever before"--

"Seminal nineteenth-century thinkers predicted that religion would gradually fade in importance with the emergence of industrial society. The belief that religion was dying became the conventional wisdom in the social sciences during most of the twentieth century. The traditional secularization thesis needs updating, however, religion has not disappeared and is unlikely to do so. Nevertheless, the concept of secularization captures an important part of what is going on. This book develops a theory of existential security. It demonstrates that the publics of virtually all advanced industrial societies have been moving toward more secular orientations during the past half century, but also that the world as a whole now has more people with traditional religious views than ever before. This second edition expands the theory and provides new and updated evidence from a broad perspective and in a wide range of countries. This confirms that religiosity persists most strongly among vulnerable populations, especially in poorer nations and in failed states. Conversely, a systematic erosion of religious practices, values, and beliefs has occurred among the more prosperous strata in rich nations"--

Includes bibliographical references and index

Part I. Understanding secularization : The secularization debate -- Measuring secularization -- Comparing secularization worldwide -- Part II. Case studies of religion and politics : The puzzle of secularization in the United States and Western Europe -- A religious revival in post-communist Europe? -- Religion and politics in the Muslim world -- Part III. The consequences of secularization : Religion, the Protestant ethic, and moral values -- Religious organizations and social capital -- Religious parties and electoral behavior -- Part IV. Conclusions : Secularization and its consequences -- Reexamining the theory of existential security -- Reexamining evidence for the security thesis -- Appendix A. Classification of types of society -- Appendix B. Concepts and measures -- Appendix C. Technical note on the freedom of religion scale

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