There has been a decline of Christianity in most Western countries as seen with a reduction in church attendances. The decline has been associated with the societal secularization, which has seen the influence of Christian values on the culture getting weaker. 1 The rise of scientific thinking has led to an increase of secularization, though this rubs the wrong way on Christians. There have been concerns over how this societal secularization is affecting Christianity. However, there are several ways in which this societal secularization has benefited Christianity in the West.
The process of secularization in the West has been crucial in supporting the advancement of modernity, such as intellectual, scientific, and technological developments. These developments can help modern society to develop a new form of Christianity that is devoid of traditions that limit one’s way of worship. 2 Secularization rose during the enlightenment era that emphasized freethinking and rationality. However, the secularization is also credited to the rise of Protestantism when reformers revolted against the Roman Catholic Church doctrine of absolute authority. This wasn’t an attack on Christianity as some people may think, rather an essential way of changing the taboos surrounding Christian orthodoxy.
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Several Christian dominations have become morally and theologically authoritarian expecting a place of privilege in society. Secularizations has a way of doing away with religions traditions and the privileged authority to this tradition. 3 This is a good thing for religion as individuals were allowed to voice a diversity of opinion in how they worship. Due to this societal secularization, different forms of faith and worship would enable people to express themselves before God. Jesus himself was shown to criticize the strict Jewish adherence to religious law, with his apostle stating that we are not slaves of the law. Paul in his letters called on believers to live by faith rather than law
At the same time, religion became more of a personal rather than imposed act on individuals due to this societal secularization in the West. 4 It is more than the rejection of formal religion, as it can be used to mean the freedom to worship. It has been creating societies where religion is treated as an option rather than a mandate. In this sense, secularization has been creating opportunities for new religious forms to emerge. This has also allowed individuals to be open minded about their religion and maintain the transcendent. The world today is slowly experiencing new forms of religion that are able to work in a secular age. Such religious forms allow for analysis of the subject and not political endorsements associated with the traditions. 5 For example, Protestantism came as a result of this societal secularization, allowing people to choose their ways of worship rather than being restricted by specific doctrine.
Societal secularization is also helping deal with the over-bearing nature of religion that was associated with past civilizations. The static religion and ideology tend to create divisions between members of faith due to the moral and theological authoritarianism. Several people justifiably rebel against such hard-lined forms of doctrine — for example, a majority of people in the West. 6 The collision of Christianity between Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as the clash with modern science, modern capitalism, and current state leads to diverse secularism in the West.
Therefore, secularization cannot be thought of as entirely the decline of religion, as this thought misses the other half of the picture. Instead, it is a project of building a new secular society creating a possible future of religion in Western civilization. In essence, societal secularization can be seen as one way of benefiting religion in the West. 7 Even if religion does not dominate societies the way it used to do, its presence allows people to seek the transcendent; something that is larger than themselves. The statement that secularization has benefited Christianity may come as a shock for both religious and secular people due to its effect on religion. The dangers of secularism include the risk of challenging the unquestioned almighty God as that is the complete deviation from doctrine. 8 Despite these risks, there are ways in which the societal secularization benefits Christianity.
References
Flatt, Kevin. The Story of the Secularization of the West . Redeemer University. Last modified October 6, 2017. https://www.redeemer.ca/resound/the-story-of-the-secularization-of-the-west/ .
Mohler, Albert. The Secularization of the West and the Rise of a New Morality . AlbertMohler.com - Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective. Last modified February 22, 2016. https://albertmohler.com/2016/02/22/the-secularization-of-the-west-and-the-rise-of-a-new-morality/ .
Todd, Douglass. Secularization is Best Thing That Ever Happened to Religion . Vancouver Sun. Last modified August 6, 2011. https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/secularization-is-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-religion.
