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Compared to the popularity of some other themes in the sociology of religion in Japan introduced from abroad, the concept and thesis of secularization has net, until recently, evoked a very enthusiastic response and has not led to an in-depth debate of the theoretical issues involved. When we seek for an explanation of this attitude of hesitancy and caution not necessarily in terms of a strictly causal relationship we can first point to some general characteristics of the sociology of religion in Japan. In addition to those indicated by several other authors, the traditional attitude toward social change, particularly abrupt and radical change, and, further, a certain fear of tackling controversial theoretical issues, may have played a role in the cautious adoption and use of the secularization thesis. Also some factors peculiar to the present time seem to have been influential. Among them we count the growing awareness that the peculiarity of Japan's present social and religious situation is different from that of the West, and that this fact requires a correspondingly peculiar conceptualization and methodology. In this connection, the theoretical issues of value-freedom in socio-religious research and of the cross-cultural applicability of concepts and theories are fundamental problems that call for renewed systematic consideration.

Reflections on the secularization thesis in the sociology of religion in Japan