A recent investigation utilizing data from the World Values Survey and the European Values Study, covering the period from 1989 to 2020, has found no substantial proof that modern social factors—such as high levels of existential security, education, and urban living—lead to a decline in religious belief and practice.
The analysis, published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, demonstrated that increases in these social determinants did not correlate with a reduction in average religiosity across nations.
Understanding Religiosity
Religiosity encompasses the depth and consistency of a person’s religious beliefs, rituals, and community involvement.
It includes various dimensions such as personal belief systems, participation in religious ceremonies, adherence to ethics, and civic engagement.
This concept often serves as a fundamental source of identity, meaning, and social cohesion, significantly influencing perspectives on broader societal and ethical issues.
Historically, in early human communities, religiosity likely provided survival advantages by enhancing social ties, promoting cooperation, fostering group identity, and facilitating the sharing of resources.
Collective beliefs and rituals played a crucial role in reinforcing interpersonal connections, reducing conflicts, and offering coping mechanisms for existential uncertainties.
Modern Social Factors and Their Impact
In comparison to earlier societies, modern communities generally experience a higher level of existential security—people face fewer immediate threats, live in close proximity within urban environments, and benefit from education that frequently provides secular explanations for natural events, which can challenge traditional religious beliefs.
Given these circumstances, some scholars have suggested that such modern conditions might contribute to a decrease in religiosity.
Indeed, various empirical studies have documented a decline in average religiosity in certain regions, particularly in Western countries, over the past few decades.
Louisa L. Roberts, the study’s author, aimed to determine whether the observed decline in religious adherence could be associated with these contemporary social conditions.
She utilized data collected from the World Values Survey and the European Values Study from 1989 to 2020.
These surveys are extensive cross-national research initiatives that collect data regarding people’s values and beliefs across numerous nations and regions.
Over time, they track shifts in societal values and provide insights into how cultural, economic, and political influences mold attitudes toward religion, family structures, governance, and social trust.
Research Findings and Implications
Roberts analyzed two distinct datasets: one encompassing contributions from 476,758 people across 101 countries in eight global regions, while the other included data from 96 countries.
She initially examined the connections between modern social factors—existential security, urbanization, and education—at the level of people before expanding her focus to examine changes in these factors at the national level over time.
The findings at the level of people suggested only weak correlations between contemporary social conditions and levels of religiosity.
Furthermore, the nature of these relationships varied by region, indicating that social conditions alone could not fully explain variations in religiosity.
Other underlying factors may influence both religious commitment and the social conditions assessed.
For instance, residing in urban environments generally corresponded with lower levels of religiosity across most regions, except for East Asia, where it was linked to increased religious adherence.
Additionally, the relationship between income and religiosity revealed both positive and negative correlations across different global regions.
Longitudinal analyses indicated that increases in the examined social determinants at the national average did not predict a decline in religiosity.
The study’s authors noted that these findings suggest a need for researchers to explore alternative explanations for the decline in average religiosity observed in certain regions around the world in recent decades.
While this research offers valuable insights into the relationship between modern social conditions and religiosity, it is important to recognize that the conclusions are based on self-reported data, which may be subject to reporting bias.
“`htmlStudy Details:
- Title: Do the Three Modern Social Conditions—High Existential Security, Education, and Urbanicity—Really Make People Less Religious? A Worldwide Analysis, 1989–2020
- Authors: Louisa L. Roberts
- Journal: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
- Publication Date: January 11, 2025
- DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12932