Niklas Luhmann’s Theory of “Secularization”: The Existence of Religion in Modern Society

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Other Title
  • ニクラス・ルーマンの「世俗化」論―近代社会における宗教の存立問題―

Abstract

<p>Although Niklas Luhmann portrayed religion as a functional system of society, he questioned whether religion could exist in modern society. His theory of secularization centrally addresses this question. There are two versions of his theory of secularization: one was published in 1977 and the other in 2000, and his perspective on religion changed between these versions. However, the details of this transformation are yet to be elucidated. This study attempts to clarify this transformation in detail. Luhmann initially considered religion in terms of the institutional Christian church. He later encountered questions raised by contemporary theologists and sociologists: what is modern religiousness (Religiosität), which appears in modern dispersed religious phenomena? Through attempts to answer these questions, his perspective on religion widened. He showed considerable interest in many religious phenomena in contemporary society that no longer fit under traditional religious organizations. Therefore, Luhmann attempted to explore the theoretical concept to portray modern religiousness as an independent religious system.</p>

Journal

  • Religion and Society

    Religion and Society 27 (0), 33-47, 2021-06-05

    The Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society

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