Analysis Of God Is Dead

Sociological Perspectives Book Review

Bruce, S (2002) God is Dead, Oxford, Wiley, Blackwell Publishing.

The occurrence and prominence of secularization has become a prevalent feature of contemporary Western society. Steve Bruce’s Book titled ‘God is Dead’, as it may be controversial outlines the debate of surrounding secularization and its occurrence. His argument is put forward in an academically stimulating and compelling way in his exploration of secularization; by building on the work of key sociological thinkers mainly Durkheim, Marx and Weber to looking at contemporary sociological thinkers such as David Martin, Abercrombie and Turner. By examining their explanations and theories of secularization and also exploring his own views I feel

The secularization paradigm Bruce argues ‘is a set of associated explanations rather than a single theory’ (Pg.43). To build on this argument Bruce provides us with a diagram of the secularization paradigm with 22 key contributing factors; some showing the religiosity of societies i.e. the protestant reformation and monotheism, some exploring other factors which have contributed towards secularization such as Industrial Capitalism, Technological Consciousness and Social Differentiation and he provides an explanation of these concepts in order to provide the reader with an analysis of these themes. This can however be problematic in the sense that the terminology of the paradigm may well be understood by individuals studying or in the field of sociology but for individuals who are looking to develop their knowledge on the debate of secularization and religion can make this difficult. Bruce argues that modernization is one of the main causes of secularization. ‘‘Modernization brought with it increased cultural diversity in three different ways. First populations moved and brought their language, religion and social mores with them in a new setting. Secondly, the expansion of the increasingly expansive nation state meant that new groups were brought into the state. But thirdly…modernization created cultural pluralism through the proliferation of classes and class fragmentation with increasingly diverse

In explaining postmodernism Bruce briefly discusses changes in society in terms of work and production and how this has shifted to consumption but also change in society has changed from producing and manufacturing goods to consuming goods and services. Revival in a period of postmodernity can be difficult and revitalising the knowledge of individuals can be problematic. If people are getting and receiving new ideas about the world why would they want to learn about the same things? Bruce concludes this chapter by giving us his final opinion of the debate and states that ‘I see no grounds to except secularization to be reversed’ (Pg.241). Secularization has been prevalent in the West over the last 50 years or so however the main religion which is declining is Christianity and secularization has not affected all world religions as seen with Islam which is one of the fastest growing religions in the