미국사회의 종교 지형의 변화

Change in the Configuration of Religiosity in American Society: Focusing on Spirituality

A new pattern of religiosity focusing on spirituality has been expanded over the past half century while the influence of Protestant churches has contracted. The new trend can be interpreted as reflecting the de-traditionalization, individualization, and privatization of religiosity in American society. The expansion of the spiritual faith is systematically analyzed in this paper. I start by comparing the difference between the religious belief and the spiritual belief. Then I discuss the cause of the expansion of spiritual beliefs, the relationship of the privatization of religiosity and the spiritual belief, the objective and contents of spiritual beliefs, and the socio-demographic traits and social attitudes of the followers. I also review the instability of spiritual belief with respect to the following points; institutionalization, social influence, internal consistency, strength, and acquisition and transference of belief. On the basis of such analyses I diagnose the future of religiosity in American society as follows. The modernity of American society encourages individualization, which ensues the weakening of traditional institution including religion. The individualistic faith of spirituality will get its way into the place where the traditional religion loosens its grip. Many Americans are likely to have the non-traditional concepts of the sacred such as supernatural force or inner-self, along with the traditional faith of the God. Meanwhile the secularists will gain their ground as well.