Explain the relationship between the growth of secularization and the rise of religious fundamentalism. Also describe the future of religion in the United States

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some analysts believe that since secularization—the decline in the significance of the sacred in daily life—has occurred, consequently, there has been a resurgence of religious fundamentalism among some groups.

Fundamentalism is a traditional religious doctrine that is conservative, is typically opposed to modernity, and rejects "worldly pleasures" in favor of other worldly spirituality. In the United States, traditional fundamentalism primarily appealed to people from lower-income, rural, southern backgrounds? however, the "new" fundamentalist movement of the 1980s and 1990s has had a much wider appeal to people from all socioeconomic levels, geographical areas and occupations. One reason for the rise of fundamentalism has been a reaction against modernization. In the United States, public education has been the focus of some who follow the tenets of Christian fundamentalism.

Various religious and political leaders have vowed to bring the Christian religion "back" into the public life of this country. They have been especially critical of educators who teach what they perceive to be secular humanism—the belief that human beings can become better through their own efforts rather than through belief in God and a religious conversion. According to Christian fundamentalists, elementary schoolchildren do not receive a fair and balanced picture of the Christian religion, but instead are taught that their parents' religion is inferior and perhaps irrational. Many social scientists believe that religion is alive and well in the United States and in other nations of the world. Not only are we seeing the creation of new religious forms, but we are also seeing a dramatic revitalization of traditional forms of religious life. One example of this change is liberation theology—the Christian movement that advocates freedom from political subjugation within a traditional perspective and the need for social transformation to benefit the poor and downtrodden. Another example of changes in the nature of theology is found in some feminist movements that have returned to pagan religions and witchcraft as a means of countering what they consider to be the patriarchal structure and content of the world's religions. Religion will continue to be important in the lives of many people. In many nations, the rise of religious nationalism has led to the blending of strongly held religious and political beliefs. The rise of religious nationalism is especially strong in the Middle East, where Islamic nationalism has spread rapidly and where the daily lives of people, particularly women and children, have been greatly affected.

Similarly, in the United States the influence of religion will be evident in ongoing political battles over social issues such as school prayer, abortion, gay and lesbian rights, and family issues.