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Researcher | Institution | Original publication | Reading recommendations | Beyond | CitationOne of the basic questions concerning religious pluralism in societies is whether it has a reinforcing or an undermining effect on religiosity of individuals. The two contradicting hypotheses are on the one hand the ‘market theory’ on the other hand the ‘secularization theory’. According to the ‘market theory’ a vast supply of religions in society also increases the demand for it and thus reinforces the religious vitality. The ‘secularization theory’ states that individual religiosity is weakened by a plurality of religions in society. The study presented in this video tests both theories empirically for the United States of America and for Western Germany using data covering more than fifty years. As DETLEF POLLACK explains, the findings confirm the secularization theory for both societies. This might indicate a positive relation between modernization and secularization that so far is doubted by many researchers.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB10294
Institution
University of Münster (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster)
Founded in 1780, the WWU Münster is a university with tradition. 250 courses of study, 43,000 students, a staff of 5,850 including 590 professors - as well as 550 partnership agreements with universities and other academic institutions all over the world. Münster University has developed a strong research profile in natural sciences, humanities, medicine, law and business administration. It targets top-level research in high-performance areas and combines this with promoting first-class junior research staff. (Source: WWU)
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Original publication
Religious Pluralism: Undermining or Reinforcing Religiosity?
Society
Published in 2016
Reading recommendations
The Many Altars of Modernity: Toward a Paradigm for Religion in a Pluralist Age
Published in 2014The Curious Case of the Unnecessary Recantation: Berger and Secularization
Peter Berger and the Study of Religion
Published in 2001
Varieties of Secularization Theories and Their Indispensable Core
The Germanic Review
Published in 2015
Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion
Published in 2000Beyond
A Ground-breaking Scientific Revolution
An Alarming Challenge for Society
If I Had a Second Life
A Personal Reading Recommendation