Modernization and the Redefinition of Religion

This study is a social psychological examination of how modernization impacts the religious beliefs of individuals. A social construction of knowledge model is used to predict that exposure to modernization will lead to a redefinition of religious faith. This redefinition can be summarized as a move from religion as a universal meaning system to religion as a compartmentalized portion of the cognitive framework. The more exposure to the processes of modernization, the more relative and contingent religious faith becomes. Traditional faith is absolutist, certain, transcendent, submissive and institutional. Modern faith moves toward relative, uncertain, immanent, independent and individualized expressions. If secularization is occurring in the United States, it is not a rejection of religious faith. It is a redefinition of the religious framework to make it compatible with the modern world.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Young, Alan Barclay

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mirowsky, John,

• Psychology, Social
• Theology
• Sociology, Social Structure and Development

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9329208

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72479