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Analyzing Secularization and Religiosity in Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2007

STEVEN R. REED
STEVEN R. REED*
Affiliation:
Chuo University, Tokyo
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Abstract

Using the 2005 and 2006 AsiaBarometer surveys I analyze religiosity and secularization in Asia. I find that, in South Asia, identification with a particular religion is the norm and most people pray every day but, in East Asia, religious identification and religious practice are both much less common. Even in secular East Asia, however, the demand for religious services is high and belief in a spiritual world is common. I conclude that secularization does not necessarily produce uniformly secular societies. Turning to the causes and consequences of religiosity, I find surprisingly few significant relationships, results that echo similar analyses in Western Europe. I then discuss the implications of these non-findings.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , December 2007 , pp. 327 - 339
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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