Secularization in Europe: Causes, Consequences, and Cultural Diversity

This paper explores the timeliness and relevance of secularization theories in Europe. It seeks to understand how classical secularization—rationalization, societalization, functional differentiation, existential security—and their theoretical innovations—namely, cultural diversity—help describe religious phenomena a specific set European countries—Austria, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain. In this context, diversity shows strongest negative correlation with religiosity. These findings arise from between different secularization, independent variables, an index religiosity, dependent variable. Cultural diversity, as good predictor explain Europe, contact non-religious worldviews enhances mutual fragilization that can lead individuals uncertainty rejection beliefs.