Secularization in Literature & Literary Theory

Secularization: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology and Term

The term “secularization” stems from the Latin word saeculum, meaning “world” or “age.” In its original context, it referred to the transfer of property or personnel from religious orders into the secular (worldly) realm. Today, secularization has a broader meaning relating to the shift away from religious centrality within a society.

Meanings and Concept

• Decline of Religious Influence: Secularization entails a decrease in the significance and authority of religion in social institutions, cultural practices, and individual lives.
• Separation of Church and State: Central to secularization is the distinction between religious and governmental spheres. Governance focuses on worldly concerns rather than the imposition of religious doctrine.
• Rationalization and Disenchantment: The process of secularization is often linked to the rise of scientific and rational explanations for phenomena, potentially diminishing the enchantment of traditional religious worldviews.
• Privatization of Religion: Religion often becomes a matter of personal belief and practice, rather than a dominating force shaping all aspects of society.
• Pluralism and Tolerance: Secularization can foster an environment where diverse religious and non-religious viewpoints are allowed to co-exist and are given greater acceptance.

Secularization: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Secularization refers to the process through which religious institutions, practices, and beliefs lose their social significance and influence within a society, often giving way to secular values and institutions. This phenomenon entails a shift from a predominantly religious worldview to one that is more centered around secular, rational, and scientific perspectives. It involves the diminishing authority of religious institutions in various spheres of public life, such as politics, education, and morality, as society becomes increasingly characterized by secular norms and institutions.

Secularization: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Here’s a breakdown of some key secularization theorists, their works, and their central arguments:

Classic Theorists

• Max Weber:
  • Work: “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism”
  • Argument: The rise of Protestantism, with its emphasis on hard work, asceticism, and worldly success, played a role in the rationalization of society and the development of modern capitalism. This rationalization process can lead to the “disenchantment” of the world, reducing the influence of religious or magical explanations.
• Émile Durkheim:
  • Work: “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life”
  • Argument: Religion serves a vital social function by promoting cohesion and solidarity. However, as societies modernize, traditional sources of solidarity weaken, and religion may lose some of its social importance.
• Karl Marx:
  • Work: Various, including “Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right”
  • Argument: Saw religion as a tool of oppression (“opium of the people”) used by ruling classes to maintain power. Believed that true social change would require moving beyond religion.

Modern and Contemporary Theorists

• Peter Berger:
  • Works: “The Sacred Canopy”, “A Rumor of Angels”
  • Argument: Early work supported classic secularization theory (decline of religion). Later, revised his view, arguing that while religion loses influence in the public sphere, it remains vital on an individual level. Also emphasized the idea of religious pluralism undermining religion’s absolute hold on societies.
• Bryan Wilson:
  • Work: “Religion in Secular Society”
  • Argument: Secularization leads to the marginalization of religion and its confinement to private life, rather than its disappearance altogether.
• Steve Bruce:
  • Work: “God is Dead: Secularization in the West”, “Secularization: In Defence of an Unfashionable Theory”
  • Argument: A strong proponent of secularization theory, arguing that modernization’s processes (rationalization, industrialization, urbanization) inevitably erode traditional religious influence.

Important Notes

• The Debate is Ongoing: There is no single, agreed-upon definition of secularization or consensus on its extent. Some theorists argue it’s a universal trend; others point to religious resurgence in certain parts of the world.
• Complexity: Secularization is a complex process with varying expressions across cultures. It’s rarely a straightforward, linear decline in religiosity.

Secularization: Major Characteristics

• Decline of Religious Authority: The influence of religious institutions and leaders on social norms, laws, and public policy wanes.
  • Literary Reference: In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan theocracy holds immense power, dictating morality and harshly punishing transgressions. A contemporary novel might portray religious figures as advisors rather than absolute authorities.
• Rationalization and Scientific Explanations: Events once attributed to divine will or supernatural forces are increasingly explained through science and reason.
  • Literary Reference: Medieval literature often features miracles and interventions by gods. Modern works might replace these with technological solutions or character-driven outcomes focused on human agency.
• Focus on the Material World: Emphasis shifts towards worldly concerns like economic progress, individual achievement, and personal fulfillment, rather than spiritual salvation.
  • Literary Reference: Classic works like The Pilgrim’s Progress focus on the spiritual journey. Modern novels might emphasize career ambition, the pursuit of wealth, or exploring the complexities of human relationships.
• Individualization of Belief: Religion becomes a matter of personal choice. People create their own spiritual paths or opt out of organized religion entirely.
  • Literary Reference: Characters in older works might have unquestioned faith tied to their community. Modern characters could display doubt, spiritual eclecticism, or a personally constructed belief system.
• Religious Pluralism: Societies become more religiously diverse, challenging any single religion’s dominance and fostering greater tolerance (ideally).
  • Literary Reference: Literature in religiously homogenous societies may not address other faiths. Modern works are likely to feature characters of different religions interacting, potentially challenging stereotypes or promoting understanding.

Important Notes:

• Secularization is rarely a complete replacement of religion. It’s more of a shift in the balance between religious and secular influences.
• Literature reflects the society it’s written in. You can trace the progress of secularization through the themes and concerns explored across different eras.

Secularization: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Secularization
Marxist Criticism	Secularization aligns with Marxist views of historical materialism, where societal change is driven by economic factors rather than religious ideologies. Marxist critics often analyze literature in terms of class struggle, emphasizing secular power dynamics.
Feminist Criticism	Secularization can be relevant in feminist literary theory by examining how patriarchal religious structures have historically marginalized women. Feminist critics explore how secularization impacts gender roles and challenges traditional religious norms.
Postcolonial Criticism	In postcolonial theory, secularization intersects with the legacy of colonialism, where Western powers often imposed their religious beliefs on colonized societies. Postcolonial critics analyze how secularization affects cultural identity and resistance to colonial ideologies.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Secularization can be viewed through a psychoanalytic lens by exploring how the decline of religious authority impacts individual psychology and the collective unconscious. Psychoanalytic critics may examine literature to uncover subconscious anxieties related to secularization.
Formalist Criticism	While formalist criticism typically focuses on the internal structure and literary devices of a text, secularization may be relevant in examining how authors depict shifts in worldview and the representation of religious themes within literary works.

Secularization: Application in Critiques

Fiction

• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Examine the rise of theocratic Gilead against the backdrop of a more secularized past. Consider how the novel portrays the limitations of secularism, critiques the co-opting of religious language for oppressive purposes, and explores potential threats to religious tolerance.
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: Analyze Lewis’s use of Christian themes and allegory. Is Narnia a purely religious realm, or is there a presence of secularization? Look at how Aslan’s authority is portrayed, the role of rationality in the narrative, and the handling of characters from different faith backgrounds (if any).
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel: Explore how the protagonist’s multiple religious affiliations challenge traditional notions of religious exclusivity. Investigate the role of rationality and doubt in Pi’s journey and how the work comments on the private, individualized nature of faith in a potentially secularized world.
• Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys: Set in the post-emancipation Caribbean, analyze how shifts in power dynamics and racial hierarchies affect religious practices. Consider the intersection of secularization, colonialism, and the lingering cultural impact of religious traditions.

Non-fiction

• A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking: Dissect Hawking’s scientific explanations of the universe. Examine the displacement of traditional religious narratives of creation, the philosophical implications of a potentially rational and mechanistic cosmos, and how it addresses questions of meaning typically belonging to the religious realm.
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: Investigate how the book frames religion as a social construct intertwined with human history and psychology. Consider Harari’s arguments about the function of religion in enabling large-scale cooperation and the potential role of secular narratives to fulfill a similar social purpose.
• Orientalism by Edward Said: Analyze how secularized European mindsets, shaped by the Enlightenment, influenced colonial narratives about the “Orient”. Explore Said’s critique of how secular modes of knowledge production can still perpetuate power imbalances and misrepresentations based on religious difference.
• Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman: Examine the book’s argument that the media functions as a secular institution influencing public opinion and consent. Consider parallels to how religious establishments might have shaped the social order in the past, and if the work suggests new forms of secular authority have emerged.

Remember:

• Historical Context Matters: Ground your analysis in an understanding of the time and place the work was produced.
• Complexity is Key: Secularization is a multifaceted process; delve into the nuances in how each work presents it.
• Theoretical Tools: Draw on works by theorists like Weber, Durkheim, Berger, and Bruce for deeper insights.

Secularization: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Secularism	The principle of separating religion from governmental, social, and educational institutions, promoting a secular public sphere.
Religious Pluralism	The coexistence of diverse religious beliefs and practices within a society, often resulting from secularization processes.
Rationalization	The process by which traditional modes of thought, including religious ones, are replaced by rational, scientific explanations.
Decline of Religion	The diminishing influence of religious beliefs, institutions, and practices in society, often associated with secularization.
Disenchantment	Coined by Max Weber, it refers to the loss of a magical or supernatural worldview and the rationalization of social life.
Secular Humanism	An ethical and philosophical worldview that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and justice without the need for religious belief.
Religious Fundamentalism	A reactionary movement that seeks to preserve traditional religious beliefs and practices in the face of secularization.
Desacralization	The process of removing sacred or divine qualities from objects, places, or concepts, often accompanying secularization.
Post-secularism	A theoretical perspective suggesting that secularization does not lead to the disappearance of religion but rather its transformation.
Laïcité	A French concept of secularism emphasizing the strict separation of religion and state, often associated with French secular policies.

Secularization: Suggested Readings

1. Berger, Peter L. The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1967.
2. Bruce, Steve. God is Dead: Secularization in the West. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2002.
3. Casanova, José. Public Religions in the Modern World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994.
4. Gauchet, Marcel. The Disenchantment of the World: A Political History of Religion. Translated by Oscar Burge. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999.
5. Taylor, Charles. A Secular Age. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007.
6. Wilson, Bryan R. Religion in Secular Society: A Sociological Comment. London: C.A. Watts & Co. Ltd, 1966.