Author:
DING Man, doctoral student, Institute for Daoism and Religious Culture, Sichuan University.
Abstract:
José Casanova's theory of de-confessionalization is an analytic theory of the phenomenon of secularization based on the paradigm of confessionalization, examining the conditions and mechanisms of secularization in light of the historical processes of different countries, and thus transcends secularization theory. The paper first delineates the foundational premises of the concept of "confessionalization," setting a contextual groundwork for a nuanced exploration of Casanova's "de-confessionalization." This includes an in-depth analysis of specific instances in which the de-confessionalization process is manifest, with an emphasis on its pivotal role in shaping the modern state. The paper posits that Casanova's concept of "de-confessionalization" offers a more comprehensive elucidation of the evolving dynamics of religion, accentuating the distinct trajectories observed in modern European nations vis-à-vis the United States. This perspective not only enriches our understanding of religious evolution in these contexts but also extends its analytical utility to the study of religious development processes in other regions of the world. The incorporation of "de-confessionalization" within Casanova's broader theoretical construct of post-secularization signifies an advancement in religious sociology, further bolstering the significance of Casanova's scholarly contributions.
Keywords:
José Casanova, Deconfessionalization, Post-secularization Theory, Modernity, Church-State Relations
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