The Sociology Book

278

R E L I G I O N H A S L O S T

I T S P L A U S I B I L I T Y A N D

S O C I A L S I G N I F I C A N C E

BRYAN WILSON (1926–2004)

T

owns and cities across

Britain contain churches

and chapels that have been

converted into pubs, showrooms,

and apartments. British sociologist

Bryan Wilson, writing between the

1960s and early 1990s, argues that

a process of secularization is taking

place. By this he means that the

importance of the supernatural and

the sacred is declining; religion,

he suggests, has less influence

on social life, institutions, and the

individual. Using statistical data

on various aspects of religious life,

he notes that, according to polls,

fewer children are being baptized

in the Church of England, fewer

people take part in the Easter

communion, and more people say

that they do not believe in God.

Wilson cites modernity—

industrialization, the development

of the state, and the advances in

IN CONTEXT

FOCUS

Secularization

KEY DATES

1904–05 Max Weber claims

there is a strong relationship

between rationalization and

secularization.

1966 Austrian-American

sociologists Peter Berger

and Thomas Luckmann

suggest that the loss of

religion’s authoritative voice

has led to a legitimation crisis.

1978 British sociologist David

Martin argues that the alleged

decline of religion cannot be

measured in statistical terms.

1985 US sociologists Rodney

Stark and William Bainbridge

claim that religion is here to

stay because people need the

solace of the supernatural.

1992 Traditional religions have

had to adapt and become less

“religious” in order to survive,

according to British sociologist

Steve Bruce.

Fewer people involve

themselves in religious

practices.

Fewer people believe

in religious thought.

Religion has lost

its plausibility

and social

significance.

Religious organizations

are less involved in

matters of state.