The Question of Religious Demand

1
The Question of Religious Demand
2
Key Points

• The rates of atheism in former East Germany are
  abnormally high.
• Despite more religious freedom, religiosity in
  Eastern Germany has continued to decline.
• The process of modernization cannot account for
  this secularization.
• Researchers must reevaluate supply-side
  explanations that hold demand constant.
• The level of demand for religious goods can
  change under certain conditions.

3
Defining Religious Demand

• Religious Demand the presence of market
  segments of potential religious adherents sharing
  particular religious preferences
• It exists when segments of the population are
  open to religious explanations
• Change in religious demand is indicated by a
  shift in the number of potential religious
  adherents

4
Who is an Atheist?

• Atheist an individual who is convinced that
  religious goods have no value and in fact prefers
  explanations that are nonreligious, atheists have
  exited the religious market altogether
• Atheist Competitor social enterprise whose
  principle purpose is to reduce religious demand
• Atheism directly competes with religion and is
  exclusive
• Changes in the number of atheists reflect changes
  in religious demand

5
East Germanys Road to Atheism

• Monopoly churches provided weak religious culture
  prior to Communism
• People resented link between church and state
• The Social Democratic Party opposed both
• Many adopted socialism as alternative culture
• Nazis further regulated/weakened religion
• Investment in atheist ideological capital was
  effectively promoted during Communism
• Mandatory atheist rituals instituted for children
• Scientific atheism replaced religious education

6
Road to Atheism Continued

• New circumstances produced by reunification after
  Communism
• New forms of state regulation of religion
• Churches no longer needed as an alternative to
  Communist institutions
• State collects church taxes from members
• Many identifying with socialist orders as a
  reaction to current political/social environment

7
Conclusions

• Becoming an atheist is a conversion process
• To be successful, atheist competitors must deter
  investment in religious capital (raise the costs)
  while promoting investment in atheist capital
• The level of atheism should be related to the
  level of activity of atheist competitors
• Suppression of religious freedom is necessary for
  atheism to succeed
• Atheism will fade in the absence of committed
  atheist competitors with adequate resources

8
Discussion Questions

• Pfaff and Froese outline specific historical
  factors that might have impacted the
  secularization process in East Germany.
• What are the benefits of doing this type of
  analysis?
• Do you find their evidence to be compelling?
• Does their argument help us better understand the
  nature of religious demand?
• Does it help us understand cases outside of
  eastern Germany?