BEYOND UNBELIEF

Abstract

Uncertainty and indifference are explored as responses to secularization beyond unbelief in Western and Eastern European countries with low and high degrees of secularization. The analysis is guided by three hypotheses. First, secularization should increase unbelief and indifference strongly, but uncertainty less strongly. This range of secularization hypothesis refers to the aggregate and individual level, to the degree of secularization of nations and to the religiosity of persons. Second, the self-induced secularization in Western European countries should produce more uncertainty, the enforced secularization in the Eastern European countries more unbelief and indifference. This form of secularization hypothesis refers to the aggregate level only. Third, the relation between religiosity and uncertainty should be negative in less secularized and positive in more secularized countries. This modified secularization hypothesis refers to the modification of individual relations by aggregate membership. Data source is the International Social Survey (1991), from which fourteen less and more secularized Western and Eastern nations are selected. Religiosity is measured as church attendance and self-ascribed religiosity. Dependent variables are belief in God and the Bible. The range of secularization hypothesis is confirmed for both beliefs on the aggregate as well as the individual level of analysis. However, the form of and the modified secularization hypothesis are conformed for the belief in God only.