SOC422 Modernization, secularization, and social integration

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:30 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective of the course is detailed analysis of the position of religion in modern societies, especially with respect to social integration, for the purpose of improving our understanding of contemporary problems associated with religious issues. Key concepts discussed in this context are modernization and secularization. In the course students will be confronted with prominent figures of sociology of religion who dealt extensively with these topics. The existence of secularization paradigm and its adequacy for analysis and interpretation of contemporary religious trends in European societies will be debated. Students should learn about complexity of the problem of secularization and its key aspects (levels of secularization, problem of applicability, pro- and anti-secularization factors etc.) A portion of time will be spent on critique of some elements of secularization theories as well as the concept of secularization itself. Methodological issues concerned with operationalization of the concept in empirical research will be also discussed. Special attention will be given to the context of post-Communist countries.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Development of secularization narrative
  • 3. Secularization as a historical phenomenon
  • 4. Classical secularization theories: P. L. Berger
  • 5. Classical secularization theories: B. R. Wilson
  • 6. Historicization of the secularization debate
  • 7. Secularization in comparative empirical surveys
  • 8. Secularization in (post)Communist societies
  • 9. Secularization and Czech society
  • 10. Secular Europe?
Literature
  • The sacred canopy : elements of a sociological theory of religion. New York: Anchor books. vii, 229. ISBN 0385073054. 1990. info
  • BRUCE, Steve. Religion in the modern world : from cathedrals to cults. Oxford, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. vi, 256. ISBN 0198781512. 1996. info
  • DOBBELAERE, Karel. Secularization : an analysis at three levels. Brussels: P.I.E.-Peter Lang. 214 s. ISBN 9052019851. 2002. info
  • LUŽNÝ, Dušan. Náboženství a moderní společnost: Sociologické teorie modernizace a sekularizace (Religion and Modern Society). Brno: Masarykova univerzita. 183 pp. Religionistika, sv. 6. ISBN 80-210-2224-8. 1999. info
  • MARTIN, David M. A general theory of secularization. 1st pub. Aldershot: Gregg Revivals. ix, 353. ISBN 0751201944. 1978. info
  • RÉMOND, René. Náboženství a společnost v Evropě. Translated by Anna Hánová. Praha: Lidové noviny. 273 s. ISBN 80-7106-496-3. 2003. info
  • Secularization and social integration : papers in honor of Karel Dobbelaere. Edited by Bryan R. Wilson - Rudi Laermans - Jaak Billiet - Karel Dobbelaere. Leuven, Belgium: Leuven University Press. xvi, 338. ISBN 9061869323. 1998. info
  • Religion in sociological perspective. Edited by Bryan R. Wilson. New York: Oxford University Press. vii, 187. ISBN 0198266634. 1982. info
Assessment methods
Students must submit written abstracts from compulsory reading each week. They must also give one presentation during the term. Activity at classes is expected. The key output of the course is a written essay and its public defense.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2009, Spring 2011, Autumn 2012.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2008/SOC422