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Since 2001, history has proven the classic and once dominant theories of secularization wrong. Instead of abandoning the subject of secularization, Niels Reeh's Secularization Revisited demonstrates how the collapse of formerly dominant secularization theories indicates fundamental conceptual challenges within sociology. Through a historical sociological case study of the political decision-making concerning the teaching of religion in Denmark from 1721 to 2006, Reeh explains why sociology of religion and sociology more generally should pay more attention to interstate relations, state-form and state-agency. The Danish state's interest in its inhabitants' religion over the last three centuries responded not only to religious motives but to concerns about foreign relations and the survival of the state.
List of contents
Introduction.- Part I: Theory.- A Conceptual Analysis of the Roots of the Dominant Secularization Theories.- What is a Religion? Towards a Relational Approach to Religion.- Further Implications of the Relational Approach to the Study of Religion.- Part II: Case-Study of the Religious State Politics in the Danish Schools from 1700 - 2006.- The period from 1721 to 1789.- The period from 1789 to 1814.- The period from 1814 to 1849.- The period from 1848 to 1865.- The period from 1864 to 1901.- The period from 1901 to 1949.- The period from 1949 to 1975.- From 1975 to the end of the Cold War.- From 1990 to 2006.- Summary of the State Religious Politics from 1721 to 2005.- Part III: Conclusion.- Conclusion.
About the author
Dr. Neils Reeh received his Ph.D. in 2007 from the University of Copenhagen. He has received several grants from the Danish Research Council and has been a one year visitor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton New Jersey and is currently Associate Research-Professor at the University of Copenhagen.
Summary
Since 2001, history has proven the classic and once dominant theories of secularization wrong. Instead of abandoning the subject of secularization, Niels Reeh’s Secularization Revisited demonstrates how the collapse of formerly dominant secularization theories indicates fundamental conceptual challenges within sociology. Through a historical sociological case study of the political decision-making concerning the teaching of religion in Denmark from 1721 to 2006, Reeh explains why sociology of religion and sociology more generally should pay more attention to interstate relations, state-form and state-agency. The Danish state’s interest in its inhabitants’ religion over the last three centuries responded not only to religious motives but to concerns about foreign relations and the survival of the state.
Additional text
“This work analyzes the agency of the state in a long-term historical perspective and presents religious education being constructed in the interest of the state. … Reeh’s work is important, innovative and interesting, especially as it is done on the subject of religious education in a long-term historical perspective. … Reeh’s work is important reading for students in religious studies as well as in education, not least for students preparing to become teachers in religious education.” (Kerstin von Brömssen, Nordic Journal of Religion and Society, Vol. 30 (1), 2017)
Report
"This work analyzes the agency of the state in a long-term historical perspective and presents religious education being constructed in the interest of the state. ... Reeh's work is important, innovative and interesting, especially as it is done on the subject of religious education in a long-term historical perspective. ... Reeh's work is important reading for students in religious studies as well as in education, not least for students preparing to become teachers in religious education." (Kerstin von Brömssen, Nordic Journal of Religion and Society, Vol. 30 (1), 2017)
