A counterexample to secularization theory? Assessing the Georgian religious revival

Author:

Stolz Jörg1,Gugushvili Alexi2,Molteni Francesco3ORCID,Antonietti Jean‐Philippe4ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute for the Social Sciences of Religions (ISSR) University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland

2. Department of Sociology and Human Geography University of Oslo Oslo Norway

3. Department of Social and Political Sciences University of Milan Milano Italy

4. Faculty of Social and Political Science University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland

Abstract

AbstractSecularization theory allows for transitory religious revivals under certain conditions, such as extreme societal crises or state weakness. The country of Georgia has witnessed the largest religious revival of Orthodox countries and one of the most striking religious resurgences worldwide. This paper gives both a statistical and historical description of this revival and asks whether it is a counterexample to secularization theory. We show that the main thrust of the religious revival in Georgia lasted 25 years and seized the entire society in what was mainly a period effect. The most significant cause for the revival was a major societal and economic crisis starting in 1985 combined with a very weak state, creating massive individual insecurity. In these circumstances, the Georgian Orthodox Church was able to provide identity for individuals and legitimacy for governments. Other possible causes of the revival—state funding, too rapid modernization, or emigration—can be excluded as primary drivers of the process. The Georgian case shows a situation in which secularization theory expects transitory revivals and is thus not a counterexample.

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Sociology and Political Science

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