Overview

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.

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9783319819211

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“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)

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 Bromssen, Nordic Journal of Religion and Society, Vol. 30 (1), 2017)

Author Information

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.

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