ABSTRACT
The dramatic rise of ‘no religion’ in Britain and in the US is a useful backdrop against which to assess the classic theories of secularisation which dominated the sociology of religion from its origins until the 1990s. This chapter argues that although the rise of ‘no religion’ in some ways vindicates secularisation theory, the fact that religion has been growing faster across the globe as a whole also deals secularisation theory a major blow. This lends support to David Martin’s approach to secularisation theory which argues that it needs to be recast to take account of variations between countries and regions; and the chapter assesses the continuing relevance of this approach. In the course of this discussion, the chapter suggests that theories which emphasise pluralisation continue to have great relevance, but that they need to be supplemented by an approach which takes more account of the ways in which the everyday practices and commitments of liberal democratic societies erode hierarchical and relatively passive forms of religion. The chapter does not argue for the abandonment of secularisation theory, but for greater attention to ‘agency’ – to the actions, choices and practices of both religious leaders and religious participants.
