Secularisation and evangelicalism : a study in the reaction of conservative Christianity to the modern world
The history of the concept of secularisation is traced from its use as an anti-religious ideological term, through the modifications and refinements of classical sociology, to its association with modernisation in recent theory. Particular attention is given to the works of Bryan Wilson, Peter Berger and David Martin. The historical and sociological evidence which calls into question the classic theory of secularisation is cited and both the persistence of religion and the growth of new quests for the transcendent are shown to increase the pressure for a new paradigm for the understanding of the place of religion in the modern world. While British Evangelicalism's post-Victorian decline could be cited as evidence in support of the strong secularlisation thesis, its recent resurgence may point to religion's persistence in the modern world. The rise and fall of Evangelicalism is outlined, from its emergence in the eighteenth-century Revival, through its growing identification with middle-class culture in the Victorian era, to its reduction to the level of a religious sub-culture by the first half of the present century. Particular attention is given to the 'varieties of evangelicalism' and it is noted that,
Smith, David William
Secularism ; Evangelicalism
Secularisation and evangelicalism : a study in the reaction of conservative Christianity to the modern world. The history of the concept of secularisation is traced from its use as an anti-religious ideological term, through the modifications and refinements of classical sociology, to its association with modernisation in recent theory. Particular attention is given to the works of Bryan Wilson, Peter Berger and David Martin. The historical and sociological evidence which calls into question the classic theory of secularisation is cited and both the persistence of religion and the growth of new quests for the transcendent are shown to increase the pressure for a new paradigm for the understanding of the place of religion in the modern world. While British Evangelicalism's post-Victorian decline could be cited as evidence in support of the strong secularlisation thesis, its recent resurgence may point to religion's persistence in the modern world. The rise and fall of Evangelicalism is outlined, from its emergence in the eighteenth-century Revival, through its growing identification with middle-class culture in the Victorian era, to its reduction to the level of a religious sub-culture by the first half of the present century. Particular attention is given to the 'varieties of evangelicalism' and it is noted that,
secularisation evangelicalism study reaction conservative christianity modern_world history concept secularisation trace use anti religious ideological term modification refinement classical sociology association modernisation recent_theory particular_attention_give work wilson peter martin historical_sociological evidence call_question classic theory secularisation cite persistence religion growth new quest transcendent show_increase pressure new_paradigm place religion modern_world british evangelicalism post victorian decline could cite evidence_support strong recent resurgence may point religion persistence modern_world rise_fall evangelicalism outline emergence eighteenth_century revival grow identification middle_class culture victorian_era reduction level religious sub culture first particular_attention_give varieties evangelicalism note