Institute of religion in the modern era

Abstract

The article considers general theoretical provisions of analysis of situation of transformation of religion institute under the influence of the processes «Entzauberung der Welt» accompanying the transition and being an integral attribute in the modern society. Particular attention is paid to the impact issues of the weakening process of generalizing mechanisms of confessional practices in the processes of legitimizing the basic components of the value systems of industrial societies, characterized on the one hand by the massization of consciousness, and on the other, by the appearance of the phenomenon of social anomie. These processes are not considered as a situation definitely provoking a crisis of confessional values, but as their inescapable transformation and, as a consequence, their weakening. Herein one of the central questions remains the question of whether the modern era will become a reference point for the death of one of the most important institutions of society or does its unique function of «ultimate reality» transferred? The position of the authors on this issueis consonant with the position of researchers who are predict the inevitability of a «renaissance» of the institution in its «individual» form, requirement of returning to religious experience in its new form, characterized for the modern societies of «invisible» and «individual» religions.