Read chapters 3 and 4, and the “Coda” in
[Religion & Culture in the West: A Primer by Dell deChant], and write a paper presenting both sides of the “Secularization Dispute.” Without favoring either side, explain how the emergence of New Religions can be seen as a challenge to the secularization thesis and also how it can be accounted for in the context of the thesis itself. Be sure to include a good definition of the secularization thesis and examples of New Religions in the context of your presentation. Finally, from a neutral perspective, explain which of the two positions gives the best account of the status of religion and secularization in contemporary culture in light of the emergence of New Religions given earlier in the paper.

secularization

Read chapters 3 and 4, and the “Coda” in
[Religion & Culture in the West: A Primer by Dell deChant], and write a paper presenting both sides of the “Secularization Dispute.” Without favoring either side, explain how the emergence of New Religions can be seen as a challenge to the secularization thesis and also how it can be accounted for in the context of the thesis itself. Be sure to include a good definition of the secularization thesis and examples of New Religions in the context of your presentation. Finally, from a neutral perspective, explain which of the two positions gives the best account of the status of religion and secularization in contemporary culture in light of the emergence of New Religions given earlier in the paper.