Abstract

KORSTANJE, Maximiliano. A new way to believe: A sociological perspective on the role of religion in a group of adolescents from Argentina. Rev.latinoam.cienc.soc.niñez juv [online]. 2007, vol.5, n.1, pp.327-366. ISSN 1692-715X.

From its origins, sociology was seriously influenced by the theory of secularization. Since then, many sociologists have speculated and theorized aplenty, trying to explain the course of religions in the world. The concern of social scientists was letely founded, as it was also during the 19th Century, on some indicators that announced the end of religion in a process that was called "secularization". It was not an easy problem. On the one hand, certain indicators showed that traditional religions had less and less influence on society. It came to be thought that religion would soon disappear. On the other hand, religion seemed to be ever more present in people's lives, and they seemed not to be able to live without it; or, probably more accurately, they seemed to be unable to live together without religion. How true is this? Beyond prejudice, what is understood by secularization? Is there a transformation of the sacred or do we witness the end of religion? What facts show this transformation? Lastly, what is the reason for this phenomenon?

Keywords : Secularization; transformation; sacred matrix dynamics.

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