Secularization

The secularization derived from saeculum (lat. time, age, also: century), generally means any form of secularization, in the strict sense but triggered by the humanism and the Enlightenment processes that solved the previous closer ties to the religion and the of life increasingly relies on human reason have established. Sociologically, this process is known in the current way of thinking as " social loss of importance of religion." For some groups secularization stands as a synonym for " de-Christianization ", which is due to the predominant occurrence of this process in the Western Christian and industrialized countries.

• 5.1 Albania and the totalitarian secularism
• 5.2 secularism and secularism in the Islamic world
• 5.3 secularization and churches
• 5.4 secularization and demography

Term Royal

The saeculum originally meant " era, century," in the Latin Church then "the temporal world " and therefore what is earthly in contrast to the Eternal. The term secularization and secularism was therefore to describe the transition of a thing from the property of the Church ( bishoprics and monasteries ) in the of (not fürstbischöflich ruled ) states ( for this term meaning see secularization ). Since the turn of the 19th century, the meanings fanned to continue.

Today, the term " secularization " is used as follows:

• Secularization is - in the broader sense - understood as the institutional and mental process of separation of church and state (or religious organizations and the state). This process is characterized Böckenförde as " detachment of the political order as such by their spiritual and religious determination and by forming ".
• With secularization is - intellectually - the transition of concepts and ideas from a primarily religious referred to in a more general context of philosophy and spirit of the time (eg, paradise, sin, salvation, salvation history, apocalypse and v. a ).
• In sociology, secularization is conceptually close and thematically general taken within the framework of the theory of social change and understood as a social process that occurs opposite to Magisierung or sacralization. A distinction is made between secularization as a process and secularity as a description of an individual company. By definition this is spoken of the process of social meaning loss of religion in modern societies.

Abstract secularization in history

The conceptual- abstract " secularization " is understood, the easier it is to secularization in many historical societies found as Social Change. So you can understand the 5th and 4th century BC in ancient Greece as a classic period of secularization. But the opposite of the historical- European, influenced by the Enlightenment notion is usually preferred.

Historical development of Western secularization

Secularization in the first meaning is the abolition of the state religion and has a significant loss of power by religious institutions, especially the churches, to the State result.

Understanding of secularization in modern societies

In the current discussions secularization is understood as an inclusive process which is centrally connected with modernization. This is expressed not only in the separation of church and state, but also includes a dwindling social significance of religion in the sense of a decline of their influence on public life ( eg influence in the education system ) and the number of members of churches such as the number of religious people. Jose Casanova, as well as Karel Dobbelaere differentiate secularization in different processes. The often-criticized assumption of linearity of secularization has been supplemented in recent work of Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart and Detlef Pollack and Gert Pickel his pupil by considerations of cultural path dependence of secularization. Contrary to popular secularization theories that secularization interpreted as resolution predetermined value orders Charles Taylor has pointed out the aspect of Optionalisierung of behaviors and beliefs, and also of religiosity, as a characteristic of secularization.

Europe

In Europe, the secularization began with the Enlightenment and reached the French Revolution and Socialism with the proposed total elimination of religion peaked (examples: Introducing a revolution calendar from the "Year of Revolution", abolition of non-revolutionary parties).

USA

Before the Enlightenment, many people of the monarchy "by the grace of God " removed by emigration to the New World. The U.S. is a secular state since its constitution in 1776. In contrast to the spread of atheism in Europe here retained the religiosity of great importance, and led to the creation of a variety of Reformed churches. Broad consensus was and is in the social significance of Christianity, but many of the former elite of the American state were not Christians, but deists. Due to the fragmentation into individual Christian denominations and the generally accepted tolerance of this development, however, could emerge not a monolithic church institution with political power, as it was known up to that of Europe. Religiosity and religion are now considered in the U.S. as equivalent.

Subsequent waves of immigration came other religious groups from the Arab and East Asian world in the USA, who could set up by the tradition of religious tolerance in the new environment and were rarely assimilated by the still prevailing Christianity. The only exceptions are the indigenous religions of indigenous people and African slaves who were forced back by the Christianization.

Contemporary history and globalization

Nowadays, the secularization in the Western world is far advanced. So whilst there are in Germany, the government confiscated church tax, religious instruction, the State alimentation of bishops, privileges for trend establishments and the ban on dancing at certain Christian holidays, but in East Germany (except in calibration field ) is now the statistically lowest church membership in Europe have.

In the Western world the separation of church and state is generally considered desirable and necessary condition for a democratic form of society. In the secular democracy is not religiously based beliefs, but the will of the voters, the common good and civic values ​​such as freedom, equality and solidarity are the guiding principle of political action.

Albania and the totalitarian secularism

To a particularly radical development came after the Second World War in Albania, directly influenced by Stalinism and the Maoist Cultural Revolution, both decided secularist movements. Under the dictator Enver Hoxha forcible secularization was driven, which adopted increasingly radical forms. They culminated in 1967 in a total ban on religion, which placed the practice of any religion is punishable. Hoxha declared the country to the " first atheist state in the world ", mosques and churches were systematically destroyed.

Although a violent promotion of secularization in the story is not unusual, this case is particularly noteworthy. Was secularization proponents often been understood as a process of "liberation ," she perverted here is particularly dramatic in a means of repression and ideological indoctrination. Albania from 1967 to 1990 can be regarded as the atheist equivalent of a religious theocracy even in some respects.

Secularism and secularism in the Islamic world

A transfer of secularization on the European model to other cultures, especially the Islamic world, as often required, also appears problematic, because the attitudes of ( Western ) Christianity and Islam to politics and government are different. Had never able to develop an identity of state and religion in the West by the polarity of the Emperor and the Pope ( although both sides strove for this ), Islam was aimed by its very nature, even with limited tolerance grant, just on this identity.

Islam posits a secularization that run counter inseparability of religious and political authority in the theory (see Caliphate ), followed in practice, however, in direct comparison to the Christian Inquisition relatively tolerant religious concept that long no sectarian pogroms such as the European persecution of the Jews knew. Members of other monotheistic religions, which later Buddhists, Hindus and Zoroastrians were counted, had in Islamic countries the legal status of dhimmis, a protected, but subordinate minority. This was indeed imposed a discriminatory restriction (including the payment of a special tax, dress codes, exclusion from government offices ), but otherwise they enjoyed religious autonomy and talked their own legal system. However, this also depended on the mercy of the Islamic rulers - so for example, were Minorities who were not " People of the Book ", not included. Therefore, a realization of democracy and human rights, which would have a secularization as a condition is true, in societies in Islamic countries generally not as desirable. Previously, the demand of western industrial nations after secularization in terms of Westernization rather a development toward radicalization.

An example of the secularization of the Turkish Republic. Since 1923, prevails in Turkey with the establishment of the Republic of secularism. For radical reform of Mustafa Kemal, Kemalism, was one of six basic principles of secularism, that is, the separation of state and religion. De facto exercised the Office of Religious Affairs of the control of the religious life. Among the most important documents on the path of secularization in Turkey include the abolition of the Caliphate, the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in place of the Islamic year count of the lunar cycle and the introduction of compulsory education in the formation and education of the population.

In fact, all formed after the demise of the Ottoman Empire States of the Arab world, more or less secular states. Syria and Iraq were never anything else; also under Bourguiba Tunisia, Egypt under Nasser, Turkey under Ataturk and Iran the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979) and the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union have all experienced strong secularization relapses. The Islamic Revolution in Iran availed Although a republican form of government in which, however, are not elected by the population theocratic institution of the Supreme Leader is at the head of the state, which can block all decisions of the government or the Parliament. The fundamentalist movements that are gaining strength in most Islamic countries since the 70s, are in part a response to this progressive secularization process they want to undo. However, part of the fundamentalist movements are also a response to the - mostly corrupt - dictatorial governments of their countries. For the strengthening of theocracy often with the " inseparability of religion and state " argues in Islam, but also so that a just state again - trying to create - according to the rules of Islam. Many of these movements always taking violence a legitimate means. Throw critics before them, to want to actually establish a totalitarian regime.

Secularization and churches

Although the churches generally accept the separation of church and state, but see the same in the secularization and its concomitants a danger. So is specifically warned in the western world is facing a risk of detachment of the individual and a relativism in terms of values ​​.

Secularization and demography

In a far-reaching consequence of the secularization among others, the U.S. political scientist Ronald Inglehart and Pippa Norris have pointed based on the World Values ​​Survey: in secularized societies, the birth rate falls below the conservation limit (see demographics ). Worldwide growing religious populations, while secular decline - which reflects an important factor also of the current conflicts.

Religious scholars have found this correlation between decreasing religiosity and secularization and demographics also based on ALLBUS data within Germany and a study by the Institute of German Economy empirically confirmed. In Germany, people who consider themselves non-religious, on average fewer children than religious people.