Sacred and Secular
Religion and Politics Worldwide

This book demonstrates that although advanced societies have been moving toward secular orientation, the world has more people with traditional religious views.

Pippa Norris (Author), Ronald Inglehart (Author)

9781107648371, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 October 2011

392 pages, 44 b/w illus. 46 tables
22.6 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.53 kg

"This second edition is an outstanding contribution to the new thought among social scientists about the process of secularization... Norris and Inglehart present convincing arguments soundly anchored in extensive systematic research from around the globe...[They] provide a brilliant, well-written, and thoroughly convincing second edition of what will surely become a classic in the field. This is an indispensable work for any college-level class concerned with the role of religion in the contemporary world. Summing Up: Essential." -J.J. Preston, Sonoma State University, CHOICE Magazine

This book develops a theory of existential security. It demonstrates that the publics of virtually all advanced industrial societies have been moving toward more secular orientations during the past half century, but also that the world as a whole now has more people with traditional religious views than ever before. This second edition expands the theory and provides new and updated evidence from a broad perspective and in a wide range of countries. This confirms that religiosity persists most strongly among vulnerable populations, especially in poorer nations and in failed states. Conversely, a systematic erosion of religious practices, values and beliefs has occurred among the more prosperous strata in rich nations.

Part I. Understanding Secularization: 1. The secularization debate
2. Measuring secularization
3. Comparing secularization worldwide
Part II. Case Studies of Religion and Politics: 4. The puzzle of secularization in the United States and Western Europe
5. A religious revival in post-communist Europe?
6. Religion and politics in the Muslim world
Part III. The Consequences of Secularization: 7. Religion, the Protestant ethic, and moral values
8. Religious organizations and social capital
9. Religious parties and electoral behavior
Part IV. Conclusions: 10. Secularization and its consequences
11. Re-examining the theory of existential security
12. Re-examining evidence for the security thesis.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Religion & politics [HRAM2], Social & political philosophy [HPS]