Several people in the past, such as Karl Marx, have predicted that as modernization spread that religious secularization would occur. I certainly think there is enough evidence to say beyond a doubt that secularization is occuring in society.
Look at the push for taking anything religous out of our country's symbols: the dollar bill, the pledge of allegiance, etc. Religion just does not have as much power in the majority of the societies in this world, but especially in the developed countries where technology and science has grown.
I agree very much that there is a huge push taking everything to do with religion out of our country, in the school systems especially. Students used to be allowed to pray before school, this is no longer allowed. At a local elementary school in my town they have a program called WRE, weekly religioous education, this is for students who wish to particiapte. This class is not allowed to be taught in the school, it is in a seperate building across the street.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of the pledge, "under god" was not in the original. It was added in the '50s during the Cold War and McCarthy's communist attacks. The events and fear of the time period brought people closer. It is not hard to imagine that an increase in religious sentiment was inserted into the pledge. Sociologically, we can see that this change was connected with the socio-political environment of the day. What connection does the move to remove "under god" have besides the general technology and science?
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