Religious market theory

Religious market theory

Stark and Bainbridge advocate religious market theory (also called rational choice theory). They criticise secularistion theory for its 'distorted view' of the past and future : there was no past 'golden age' of religion, nor is it likely that everyone will be an atheist in the future.

Stark and Bainbridge base religious market theory on 2 assumptions:

1) People are naturally religious and religion meets human needs

2) People make rational choices based on the costs and benefits of the available religious options.

A02- Religious market theory is a critique of secularisation theory, which they see as eurocentric and failing to explain religions continuing vitality…