SECULARIZATION AND FUNDAMENTALISM

SECULARIZATION AND FUNDAMENTALISM

Secularization is a process by which religion slowly loses its social and cultural importance, thus restricting the role of religion restricted in modern societies. In these secularized societies, religion faith ends up losing cultural authority. Secularization is more expressed in advanced western countries. On the other hand, fundamentalism is a religious attitude that is strictly adhered to by persons belonging to a particular faith. This phenomenon is not only on religion but also a political related idea. This essay seeks to highlight the resurgence and the effects of secularization to our daily lives.

Secularity is growing at an alarming rate as a result of the advancement of societies in western countries. The percentage of people attending churches in these countries is decreasing according to (world values 2006). These changes are a result of industrialization, technological advancement, and urbanization. Due to these advancements, these states are becoming more independent from the church authority to ensure they focus mainly on development. These states have developed in terms of education, technology, and democracy. Secularized societies have since progressed significantly in industrialization leading to better living standards. The results of manufacturing are getting attention from the majority of developing countries (Bilbao and Javier, 473-484). However implies that they have to do away with some of primitive religious believes such as religious wars, gender inequality, amongst many others. Consequently, indicating that religions have to restructure to accommodate the increasing secular adherence.

Elements of secularization are also evident in state formation, as some states. Unfortunately, nations that are formed based on religion have seized to be religious in the modern world. For instance, a country like France experienced a lot of difficulties before the formation of the contemporary France republic (Skirbekk et al.,293-310). These problems were a result of catholic oppression by the elites and the rise of protestant. As a consequence of this, France had no option but to become a secular state. Another scenario was in Ireland, where there political and sectarian conflicts were experienced. The dispute was between the protestant loyalist and catholic Irish nationalists, with the latter being loyal to the United Kingdom. They had conflicting interests as protestants wanted Ireland to remain under British rule while the nationalists were for an independent Irish republic. It finally emerged that a sovereign government emerged with the Catholic forming an influential political factor. From the above examples, it is evident the process of liberation calls for secularization due to the anticipated globalization. Fundamentalism is slowly losing its popularity in many areas of human development through the importance of religion should not be neglected. There are several instances that a certain level of refrain from religion is paramount.as the saying goes, “the end justifies the means.”

Lastly, we look at secularization resurgence in the roles of women in society. It is undisputable that religion plays a significant role in the establishment of social norms of every community. In the past decades, women were not allowed to engage in leadership positions and politics. Some religions advocated that leadership roles are restrictedly to men. According to some beliefs, the central purpose of women was to be a helper to his husband. The fundamentalism on this is slowly losing its original concepts in many ways. Presently there are many women leaders in different levels of society. Notably, we have women leaders in positions such as the presidency, prime ministers, governors, just to mention a few. The figures of women in leadership might shoot up in a few years.

In conclusion, fundamentalism is at a decline as a result of globalization. However, secularization is at an increase. Beliefs that limited women’s participation is now a thing of the past. Countries are trading freely with each other, and newly independent states are emerging. Indeed secularization should be embraced.

Works cited

293-310. Bilbao-Ubillos, Javier. “Another approach to measuring human development: The composite dynamic Human Development Index.” Social Indicators Research 111.2 (2013): 473-484.

Skirbekk, Vegard, Eric Kaufmann, and Anne Goujon. “Secularism, fundamentalism, or Catholicism? The religious composition of the United States to 2043.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 49.2 (2010):