From Invisible Religion to Diffused Religion

Abstract

This chapter claims that levels of diffused religion are differentiated, religious and moral pluralism are new features of contemporary society, moral attitudes and religious characteristics are not in conflict, even though contents of religious and moral pluralism are different. Diffused religion also represents a kind of functional substitute for divergence from the ecclesiastical structure. There is a limited tendency toward religious pluralism, whereas moral themes would appear to be much more fragmentary. The cultural setting seems to play a more decisive role than religious affiliation, in view of the fact that attitudes do not change substantially in groups claiming to be religious and those who do not.