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Religions
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Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas
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Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 10156

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jorge Botelho Moniz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Social Sciences, Education and Administration, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: religion–state relations; secularization; cultural diversity; religious freedom; religions in Europe
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Grace Davie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK
Interests: sociology of religion; religion in Europe; multiple modernities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of and debate about religion in Europe remains surprisingly vibrant. The exploration of avenues for understanding the impact of modernity on religion (both institutional and individual) has ensured both abundant data and epistemological advances, as evidenced by the recent and widely read Special Issue of Religions.

The pressures are real. Historical processes and their continual updating, cultural and religious diversity, new forms of religiosity and spirituality including so-called religious “nones”, demographic issues, digital mass media, the ‘new’ youth (millennials and generation Z), gender issues, sexualities, political and religious populism, religious freedom or lack thereof, new forms of state–church relations, new forms of evangelization, environmental concerns, the effects of the pandemic, and the return of war to the European continent all demand that we, as researchers, constantly update both our data and our understandings of the relationship and tensions between religion and modernity in and across Europe.

The conceptual pressures are similar. The epistemological avenues opened up by the debate on multiple modernities and, consequently, multiple secularizations, compel us to revisit in a more contextual manner the grand narratives (especially those of subtraction) of secularization. Europe has long since ceased to be seen as a homogeneous reality, i.e., a single exceptional case of secularization, contrasting with a ‘furiously religious’ world (as Peter Berger termed it). This does not, however, diminish the European continent’s attractiveness for those researching the relationship between modernization and religion. On the contrary, research on secularization in Europe is more than ever relevant due to continually changing circumstances, diverse modeling, multiple secularizations, and the specific arrangements that emerge from the experiences of each European state and society.

Keeping this complexity in mind, this Special Issue invites researchers interested in looking again at the role of religion in European societies to submit proposals, with a view to expanding and deepening the debate on what is happening in Europe. Proposals will be accepted that hold a dialogue with the topics mentioned above and that open new ways of discussing and understanding the place of religion in European societies. We welcome contributions from a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to: sociology of religion, history (exploring the evolution of secularization processes), philosophy of religion (with a particular emphasis on theoretical studies and understanding the fallacies of the secular age), political science (examining the evolution of state–church relations), and international relations (analyzing the role of religion in the European Union and its function as a tool for global action).

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor, or to the Assistant Editor Sandee Pan (sandee.pan@mdpi.com) of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jorge Botelho Moniz
Prof. Dr. Grace Davie
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Europe
  • modernity
  • secularization
  • religion and politics

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 360 KB  
Article
Singing in the Immanent Frame: Contemporary Christian Worship Songs and the Complex Relationship Between Christianity and Secularisation in Britain
by Helen D. Miller
Religions 2026, 17(2), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17020201 - 7 Feb 2026
Viewed by 427
Abstract
In this paper, I explore the complex relationship between Christianity and secularisation in Britain through the small, but illuminating, window of contemporary Christian worship songs. My focus is on Christian worship songs that utilise battle imagery. To explore changes in British Christianity over [...] Read more.
In this paper, I explore the complex relationship between Christianity and secularisation in Britain through the small, but illuminating, window of contemporary Christian worship songs. My focus is on Christian worship songs that utilise battle imagery. To explore changes in British Christianity over the last 30–40 years, I compare Songs of Fellowship with the most popular songs sung in British churches in May 2025. My findings reveal resonance between the shifts observed and key aspects of Charles Taylor’s analysis of secularisation. Therefore, my analysis suggests an ongoing impact of secularisation on Christianity in Britain, specifically evangelical charismatic churches, while also highlighting churches’ resistance to secularising trends. I also consider the roots of secularisation in Christianity and contend that the philosophical and phenomenological limitations of secularisation may be contributing to an increased interest in Christianity, particularly amongst young adults. There is, therefore, a paradoxical relationship between Christianity and secularisation in Britain, with each influencing (and, in some regards, inextricable from) the other. I conclude by considering theological and contextual dilemmas for churches using songs that utilise military metaphors, including how such lyrics may be perceived in a postcolonial context and at a time when concerns about violent expressions of Christian nationalism are a key topic in public debate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
31 pages, 452 KB  
Article
The Second Stage of the “Religious Revival” in Russia: How to Evaluate It from the Perspective of the Secularization Debate
by Dmitry Uzlaner
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1582; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121582 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1414
Abstract
This article focuses on the religious processes in Russia over the last fifteen years. The author has two objectives: on the one hand, to describe processes that can be called the second stage of the “religious revival” in contemporary Russia, and on the [...] Read more.
This article focuses on the religious processes in Russia over the last fifteen years. The author has two objectives: on the one hand, to describe processes that can be called the second stage of the “religious revival” in contemporary Russia, and on the other hand, to place them within the context of theoretical discussions on secularization/desecularization. To achieve this goal, this article first examines the question of what secularization and, accordingly, desecularization are. Next, it describes the main trends in Russia’s religious life since 2012 at the macro-, meso-, and micro-levels. Then, the author examines numerous academic strategies aimed at “explaining religion away,” that is, proving that there has been no increase in the social significance of religion. Among these strategies, the following are considered in detail: (a) mixing empirical statements and value judgments; (b) instrumentalization of religion; and (c) religion finding “other work” to do. Finally, this article offers both a general evaluation of the Russian case from the perspective of secularization theory and broader reflections on the theory itself—for instance, it examines whether the theory is, in principle, falsifiable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
22 pages, 468 KB  
Article
Charting the “Geography of the Heart”: The Diyanet’s Civilizational Vision and Its European Frontiers
by Tuğberk Yakarlar and Efe Peker
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1572; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121572 - 14 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
Recent scholarship has studied the extensive transformation of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) over the past two decades as embodying a form of religious populism that mobilizes civilizational antagonisms. Based on a directed qualitative content analysis of Friday sermons, official publications, online [...] Read more.
Recent scholarship has studied the extensive transformation of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) over the past two decades as embodying a form of religious populism that mobilizes civilizational antagonisms. Based on a directed qualitative content analysis of Friday sermons, official publications, online material, broadcasts, and public statements by Diyanet leaders, this article makes three contributions. First, while confirming that the Diyanet promotes the civilizational unity of the ummah and casts Turkey as the spiritual custodian of a transhistorical Islamic world, the analysis shows that anti-elitist framings characteristic of populism are barely present in its rhetoric. Second, the article provides a detailed examination of gönül coğrafyası (geography of the heart), a widely invoked yet understudied concept through which the Diyanet reimagines Ottoman-Islamic heritage as a sacred topography of civilizational belonging and responsibility. Third, it examines how Europe is situated both outside and within this imagined geography: at once a constitutive and menacing “other” marked by Islamophobia and cultural decay yet also a moral frontier inhabited by Muslim diasporas through whom Turkish Islam extends its reach. By drawing such symbolic boundaries, the Diyanet frames Islam as both religious patrimony and ethical alternative to Western modernity, portraying itself as a key actor in the re-sacralization of modern life across borders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
24 pages, 348 KB  
Article
Religious Diversity and Non-Religion Examined Within the Analytical Framework of a European History of Religion—Portugal as a Case Study
by Steffen Dix
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121549 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 839
Abstract
A large part of current sociological studies implicitly or explicitly assumes that religious diversity, non-religion, and secularisation are predominantly a question of European modernity. In a certain sense this assumption is correct, as these phenomena are growing in quantity, at least in Europe, [...] Read more.
A large part of current sociological studies implicitly or explicitly assumes that religious diversity, non-religion, and secularisation are predominantly a question of European modernity. In a certain sense this assumption is correct, as these phenomena are growing in quantity, at least in Europe, and have become much more visible since the early 20th century. However, scholarly categories or models are always dependent on a particular discourse. If we refer to an interpretive–comparative method (Jonathan Z. Smith) and specifically to the epistemological model of a European History of Religion (Burkhard Gladigow), then we could assume that religious diversity and early forms of non-religion are almost a regular occurrence in European history, but hidden generally by a Christian discourse. The first part of the article, therefore, concerns the presentation of an analytical framework that can make religious diversity and early forms of non-religion more tangible historically and culturally. In the second part, Portuguese religious history should be re-examined based on this framework. Even if we cannot answer all questions on this complex topic, it may help us to better understand some contradictions in modern Portuguese religious history, such as the discrepancy between the population’s consistently high self-declaration as Catholic and a relatively low level of religious practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
21 pages, 1095 KB  
Article
Secular Media, Religious Activists: The Role of Religion in Anti-Gender Mobilizations in Europe
by Giulia Evolvi
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121525 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1381
Abstract
Anti-gender groups, by promoting a Christian-inspired traditional view of family, challenge the idea that European society is becoming more secular. Given that previous literature has highlighted how these groups extensively use digital media and are connected to the Vatican, this article explores the [...] Read more.
Anti-gender groups, by promoting a Christian-inspired traditional view of family, challenge the idea that European society is becoming more secular. Given that previous literature has highlighted how these groups extensively use digital media and are connected to the Vatican, this article explores the following questions: How do anti-gender groups discuss religion on social media? What is the role of religion for anti-gender activists? By means of a review of research on anti-gender movements, secularism, and activism, this article argues that anti-gender groups do not directly contribute to the growth of religious institutions but use religion to bring actors together in mobilizations, in what I define as an instance of Christian transcalar activism. A mixed-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Instagram pages of the anti-gender group CitizenGO, combined with observations and interviews with activists, suggests that religion is not a central topic in digital narratives, which mainly construct a perceived marginalization of Christians in secular society; however, Catholicism is fundamental for activists as a motivation for action and a socialization force. In conclusion, anti-gender groups’ digital media use connects different actors and mobilizes people who are already religious and who engage in activism through their religious communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
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18 pages, 327 KB  
Article
Right-Wing Populist Parties as Agents of Religionization or Secularization? An Analysis of the Italian Case
by Luca Ozzano
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121521 - 2 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1361
Abstract
Since the 1990s, but especially in the early 21st century, a new family of right-wing populist parties has become a stable feature of Western European party systems. These parties, linked by several studies to new cleavages related to globalization processes and values changes [...] Read more.
Since the 1990s, but especially in the early 21st century, a new family of right-wing populist parties has become a stable feature of Western European party systems. These parties, linked by several studies to new cleavages related to globalization processes and values changes which have happened since the late 20th century, are also marked by a new use of religion. In their worldview, this latter is indeed mainly an identity and civilization marker, related to the belonging, rather than believing or behaving, dimension. As a consequence, while they promote Christian symbols in the public sphere and are actively engaged in debates related to morality politics and multicultural society, they also contribute to processes of banalization and culturalization of faith, and to the delegitimization of religious leaders and institutions. For this reason, the scholarly community is divided about their role as promoters of religion, or, rather, as (maybe unintentional) agents of secularization. This article will try to contribute to this discussion by analyzing the Italian case. Italy is indeed an interesting laboratory for the study of right-wing populism, with the development over the past few decades of two state-wide parties belonging to the right-wing populist family, the League and Brothers of Italy, both currently part of the Meloni cabinet. The article will analyze the historical roots of the parties and their developments, their manifestos, their policy proposals, and their relations with religious institutions and symbols to reflect on the two parties’ uses of religion for political aims, and their meaning in relation to the above-mentioned theoretical debates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
14 pages, 260 KB  
Article
The Sociocultural Change Under the Sacred Canopy in Italy
by Enzo Pace
Religions 2025, 16(12), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16121473 - 21 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1105
Abstract
The article describes the sociocultural change under the sacred canopy in a country with a deep Catholic tradition in Europe, focusing on the indicators of secularization in Italy, drawn from the most recent national surveys. One of the most significant results is the [...] Read more.
The article describes the sociocultural change under the sacred canopy in a country with a deep Catholic tradition in Europe, focusing on the indicators of secularization in Italy, drawn from the most recent national surveys. One of the most significant results is the increase in nuns and spiritual but not religious people, especially among the younger generations. Nonetheless, for the majority of Italians, Catholicism is still part of the social framework of collective memory. At the same time, immigration is contributing to a changing religious geography: Italian society is transitioning from a monopoly regime (a dominant church-based religion) to one characterized by the pluralism of faiths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Europe, Religion and Secularization: Trends, Paradoxes and Dilemmas)
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