ABSTRACT
The relation between pluralism and religion has never been unambiguous. On the one hand, as has been argued especially for the American case, pluralism in religion can encourage political pluralism and thus democracy. On the other hand, pluralism tests the limits of what religious people find tolerable in the society and thus tests their acceptance of democracy if a democratically constituted regime legislates religiously unacceptable behavior. Religious pluralism has both institutional and cognitive implications. Voluntary imperative imposes itself wherever religious pluralism comes to predominate. Catholic observers have coined the term Protestantization to refer, usually pejoratively, to recent changes in their church. For both historical and ideational reasons, Protestantism has had a comparative advantage in a positive adaptation to pluralism. As pluralism spreads globally, all religious groups become in fact voluntary associations, even if they have to be dragged into this social form kicking and screaming.
