Secularization (Religion in Belgium and France)

Secularization, which is the autonomization of the so-called secular sub-systems with regard to institutionalized religions, has different forms. One of them is "laicisation", which is a form of manifest secularization, i.e. one that is intended and recognized by those producing it. Besides this form, secularization occurs also latently, since it is not explicitly intended. These two forms may be produced on the societal and the organizational level. The author gives examples of them. He also analyzes the existent reciprocal relationships between these collective processes and individual secularization.