Religiousization in Literature & Literary Theory

Religiousization: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Religiousization is a term derived from the word “religious” and the suffix “-ization,” indicating a process of becoming more religious or imbuing non-religious aspects of life with religious characteristics. It refers to the phenomenon wherein social, cultural, or political entities adopt or incorporate religious beliefs, practices, or language. This term encapsulates the increasing influence or prominence of religion in various spheres of life, often resulting in the reconfiguration of norms, values, and behaviors according to religious principles.

Meanings and Concepts:

• Cultural Transformation: Religiousization can denote a cultural shift towards greater religiosity, where societal norms, rituals, and symbols become more imbued with religious significance.
• Political Phenomenon: In the context of politics, religiousization describes the integration of religious ideologies or rhetoric into political discourse, policies, or institutions, influencing governance and public life.
• Individual Spiritualization: On an individual level, religiousization may involve a personal journey towards adopting religious beliefs or practices, leading to spiritual growth or identity formation.
• Social Dynamics: It reflects broader social processes where religion plays an increasingly prominent role in shaping collective identities, social interactions, and community structures.
• Secularization Debate: Religiousization stands in contrast to secularization, prompting discussions about the persistence or resurgence of religious influence in modern societies despite expectations of secularization’s advance.

Religiousization: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Religiousization refers to the process by which religious ideas, symbols, practices, or institutions gain increased prominence and influence within various spheres of society. This process can occur in both overtly religious and seemingly secular contexts. Religiousization often involves complex interactions between social, political, and cultural forces, leading to shifts in how individuals and communities understand and engage with the world around them.

Religiousization: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorist	Work	Key Arguments
José Casanova	Public Religions in the Modern World	Argues that globalization has led to the resurfacing of religion in the public sphere, challenging the secularization thesis and highlighting the persistence of religious influence.
Talal Asad	Formations of the Secular	Discusses how the secular is constructed through religious and non-religious practices, emphasizing the complexity of religiousization processes in diverse social contexts.
Peter L. Berger	The Sacred Canopy	Introduces the concept of “plausibility structures” to explain how societies maintain shared beliefs, and discusses how modernity can lead to both secularization and religious revival.
Steve Bruce	Secularization: In Defence of an Unfashionable Theory	Challenges the idea of religious resurgence, arguing that secularization remains a dominant trend in modern societies despite apparent religious revivals in certain contexts.
Grace Davie	The Sociology of Religion	Explores the concept of “believing without belonging,” suggesting that religious practices and beliefs can persist even as formal religious institutions decline, contributing to religiousization.

These theorists and their works offer valuable insights into the processes, dynamics, and debates surrounding religiousization in contemporary societies.

Religiousization: Major Characteristics

1. Increased Visibility of Religion: One key characteristic of religiousization is the heightened prominence and visibility of religion in various aspects of society, including politics, culture, and public discourse.
2. Rise of Fundamentalism and Orthodoxy: Religiousization often involves a resurgence of fundamentalist or orthodox interpretations of religious doctrines, emphasizing strict adherence to traditional beliefs and practices.
3. Expansion of Religious Institutions: Religiousization may lead to the expansion and revitalization of religious institutions such as churches, mosques, temples, or synagogues, as well as the establishment of new religious organizations.
4. Influence on Social Norms and Values: Religiousization can shape social norms and values by promoting religious principles and morality, influencing behaviors, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships.
5. Political Mobilization: Religion becomes a significant factor in political mobilization, with religious groups or movements actively engaging in political activism, advocacy, and policymaking.
6. Impact on Identity Formation: Religiousization influences individual and collective identities, as people increasingly identify with religious affiliations and incorporate religious beliefs and symbols into their sense of self.
7. Response to Globalization: Religiousization can be a response to globalization, as individuals and communities seek to reaffirm their cultural and religious identities in the face of perceived threats from secularism or cultural homogenization.
8. Interfaith Relations and Conflicts: Religiousization may lead to heightened interfaith relations and conflicts, as different religious groups assert their beliefs and compete for influence in shared social spaces.
9. Challenges to Secularism: Religiousization poses challenges to secularism by advocating for the integration of religious values into public policies and institutions, challenging the separation of religion and state.
10. Diverse Expressions and Contexts: Religiousization manifests differently across regions and cultures, reflecting diverse religious traditions, historical contexts, and socio-political dynamics.

Religiousization: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Religiousization
Marxist Criticism	Religiousization can be analyzed in Marxist criticism to explore how religion functions as an ideological tool used by dominant classes to maintain power and control.
Postcolonial Theory	In postcolonial theory, religiousization is relevant in examining how colonial powers imposed their religious beliefs and practices on colonized peoples, impacting cultural identities.
Feminist Theory	Religiousization is pertinent in feminist theory to analyze how patriarchal interpretations of religious texts and doctrines reinforce gender inequalities and restrictive gender roles.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Within psychoanalytic theory, religiousization can be explored as a manifestation of psychological processes such as repression, projection, and the search for meaning and security in life.
Queer Theory	In queer theory, religiousization can be examined in relation to the construction of normative sexual and gender identities within religious frameworks, and how LGBTQ+ individuals navigate these spaces.

Religiousization: Application in Critiques

1. Paradise Lost by John Milton:
   • Application of Marxist Criticism: Explore how religiousization is utilized as a form of ideological control in Milton’s epic poem. Analyze how the portrayal of God and Satan reflects power dynamics and class struggle, and examine how religious rhetoric is employed to justify hierarchical structures and social order within the narrative.
2. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver:
   • Postcolonial Critique: Examine the theme of religiousization within the context of colonialism and cultural imperialism. Analyze how the evangelical mission of the Price family in the Congo leads to the imposition of Western religious beliefs onto indigenous cultures, resulting in cultural conflict, displacement, and the erosion of traditional practices and identities.
3. The Crucible by Arthur Miller:
   • Feminist Analysis: Critique how religiousization intersects with gender dynamics and power relations in Puritan society. Explore how accusations of witchcraft serve as a means of controlling women who deviate from societal norms, and examine the ways in which religious zealotry reinforces patriarchal authority and perpetuates the subjugation of women.
4. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky:
   • Psychoanalytic Perspective: Apply psychoanalytic theory to analyze the characters’ religious experiences and existential dilemmas in the novel. Explore how religiousization functions as a response to inner turmoil, guilt, and the search for moral absolution, and examine how characters’ psychological conflicts are expressed through their religious beliefs and interactions.

These critiques demonstrate how the concept of religiousization can be applied to diverse literary works to uncover deeper themes, ideologies, and socio-cultural contexts within the narratives.

Religiousization: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Religiousization	The process by which religious ideas, practices, symbols, and institutions become increasingly prominent or influential in a society or culture.
Secularization	The process by which religion loses social and cultural significance and authority.
Desecularization	A reversal of secularization, where religion regains public influence or importance.
Sacralization	The process of imbuing a place, object, or concept with sacred or religious significance.
Theocracy	A form of government where religious leaders hold ultimate authority, and religious laws are the basis of the legal system.
Civil Religion	A set of quasi-religious beliefs, symbols, and rituals that provide a sense of collective identity and purpose within a secular state.
Religious Fundamentalism	A strict adherence to a literal interpretation of a religious doctrine, often accompanied by resistance to societal change.
Religious Nationalism	The use of religious identity to define a nation or a political movement, often promoting a sense of superiority over other groups.
Religiosity	The extent to which an individual or group considers themselves to be religious, often reflected in their beliefs, practices and affiliations.
Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR)	Individuals who identify as spiritual but do not align themselves with any particular religious tradition or institution.

Religiousization: Suggested Readings

1. Asad, Talal. Formations of the Secular: Christianity, Islam, Modernity. Stanford University Press, 2003.
2. Berger, Peter L. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. Anchor Books, 1990.
3. Casanova, José. Public Religions in the Modern World. University of Chicago Press, 1994.
4. Davie, Grace. Religion in Modern Europe: A Memory Mutates. Oxford University Press, 2000.
5. Durkheim, Émile. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Oxford University Press, 2008.
6. Smith, Adam. Religion, Culture, and Society: A Global Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2017.
7. Stark, Rodney, and Roger Finke. Acts of Faith: Explaining the Human Side of Religion. University of California Press, 2000.
8. Taylor, Charles. A Secular Age. Harvard University Press, 2007.
9. Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Routledge, 2001.
10. Wuthnow, Robert. After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion. Princeton University Press, 2007.