Desecularization

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Desecularization is the transformation of a society from identification with irreligious values and institutions toward religious values and religious institutions. Peter L. Berger introduced the concept of desecularization in 1999.[1][2]

Many of the areas of the former areas of the Soviet Union, including Russia, experienced a rapid desecularization since the fall of the Soviet Union.[3] Communist China is currently experiencing a rapid desecularization due to the rapid growth of Christianity in China.[4]

On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported:

“ Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."[5] ”

In April of 2010, the British academic Eric Kauffmann declared that "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of Protestant Europe and France."[6] Kaufmann also declared that secularism "appears exhausted and lacking in confidence".[7] In April of 2012, French scholars reported that evangelical Christianity was likely the fastest growing religion in France.[8]

In terms of the English speaking world, Google trend data as of August 2013 indicates that the world's interest in atheism and evolutionism has declined since 2004 while interest in God has increased.[9]


Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion

Eric Kaufmann, a professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, using a a wealth of demographic studies argues the decline of atheism in terms of its global adherents is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate.[10][11][12][13]

Eric Kaufmann, a professor at Birkbeck, University of London, using a a wealth of demographic studies argues the decline of atheism in terms of itd global adherents is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate.[14][15][16][17] In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.[18] Kaufmann is author of the book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?.[19][20] In the Western World due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."[21]

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."[22] Furthermore, Kaufmann also argues that secularization may reverse itself significantly earlier than 2050 in the West due to religious immigration and a religious population which is increasingly resistant to secularization in Europe.[23][24]

Biblical creationism and desecularization

In 2011, a supporter of the Question evolution! campaign wrote:

“ Atheism is a religion. And atheists, time and time again, take away the religious liberty of Christians in order to promote their false religion. Evolution is the air supply of atheism. Directly confronting atheism can be useful. But, the best way for Christianity to prevail against secularism is through preventative medicine. Reaching young people with the gospel and discipling them is a first step. Yet to truly prevail against atheism, cutting off the air supply of atheism is crucial....

The direct approach of confronting atheism is important, but the indirect approach of preventing atheism through the cutting off of its air supply is also far more efficient. If Christendom is going to conquer atheist ideology, it makes perfect sense to do so in the quickest and most efficient manner possible. Let's cut atheism off at the knees and vigorously spread the Question evolution! campaign on the internet and in our local communities.[25]

”

The atheist Michael Ruse, evolutionist science philosopher admitted, “Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.”[26]

Financial instability and desecularization

Evangelical Christianity has grown quickly in many countries that were experiencing economic and political instability (for example, in several areas of Latin America).[27] Given the Eurozone crisis and the high indebtedness of many Western countries, conservative Mary Eberstadt believes that a coming imploding welfare state could cause some Western societies to shift more to a focus of faith and family and spark a religious revival. [28]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ Journal of Church and State, Desecularization: A Conceptual Framework by Vyacheslav Karpov, 2010
  2. ↑ Peter L. Berger, “The Desecularization of the World: A Global Overview,” in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics, ed. Peter L. Berger (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999)
  3. ↑ What does the historical record say about how fast secularism can collapse in countries?
  4. ↑ World's biggest atheist population about to see a big decline
  5. ↑ http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]
  6. ↑ British academic Eric Kaufmann says "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of Protestant Europe and France". Also, Kaufmann writes that secularism "appears exhausted and lacking in confidence"
  7. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  8. ↑ France and evangelicalism - Christian Post
  9. ↑ Google trends: Interest in atheism and evolution down. Google searches for God are up. Atheism beaches will be softened up before major attacks on atheism
  10. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  11. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
  12. ↑ Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
  13. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  14. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  15. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
  16. ↑ Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
  17. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  18. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  19. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann
  20. ↑ Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  21. ↑ Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  22. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
  23. ↑ European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe
  24. ↑ The future of European Darwinism and atheism is bleak
  25. ↑ Cutting off the air supply of atheism
  26. ↑ 15 questions for evolutionists
  27. ↑ Economics adn Darwinism
  28. ↑ An Interview With Mary Eberstadt On Her New Book “How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization”, interview by John Hawkins.
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