Secular Vs. Religious

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer concentrates on certain specific and cardinal aspects in order to provide some understanding of the secularization of the Western developed counties as compared to the more religious outlook of many countries in the developing world. The view of secularization that is explored in this paper refers essentially to the materialistic cultural nexus that has developed in many Western countries and especially in industrialized developed countries. This is compared to the spiritual and religious orientation in less developed counties. The writer concludes that in general the secularization of the West in comparison to less developed counties is a fact that can be understood in terms of the advance of objective, rational thought and other concomitant factors in politics and history.

Outline:
Introduction and Overview
What is Secular and Secularization?
A Brief Overview of Secularization in the West
The Reasons for the Decline of Religious Beliefs
Rationality and Science in the West
Western Thought and Philosophy
Social and Political Aspects
Conclusion

From the Paper:

" While it is not possible to isolate any one single aspect as a central motivating factor in the movement towards a secular society in developed countries, yet the growth of rationality and the belief in objective science, especially in Western developed countries like the United Kingdom, had a profound effect on the attitude towards religion in the West. The Eastern and less developed countries of the world did not imbibe this strong trend towards rationality and scientific materialism to the same extent - which is a central reason for their greater tolerance of a religious and spiritual perspective on life.
"The growth of rationalist thinking is intimately connected with the increased faith in modern science and objectivity - which runs counter to subjective perception and faith in a God that cannot be seen or objectively encountered. Scientific thought was or lead to the questioning of the basic assumptions of religious reality."

Sample of Sources Used:

• A., Colema Joh. "God Is Dead: Secularization in the West." Theological Studies 64, no. 4 (2003): 896. Database on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002060025. Internet. Accessed 4 August 2008.
• Peacocke, John. "6 Heidegger and the Problem of Onto-Theology," In Post-Secular Philosophy: Between Philosophy and Theology. Edited by Blond, Phillip, 177-194. London: Routledge, 1998. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102972741. Internet. Accessed 4 August 2008.
• Blond, Phillip, ed. Post-Secular Philosophy: Between Philosophy and Theology. London: Routledge, 1998. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102972552. Internet. Accessed 4 August 2008.
• Buchanan, Patrick. "Postmodern Secular Gods Tolerate No Dissent." Insight on the News, 8 March 1999, 28. Database on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001237687. Internet. Accessed 4 August 2008.
• Coles, Robert. The Secular Mind. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=100525015. Internet. Accessed 4 August 2008.

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