The modern world is characterized by the differentiation and separation of social domains that in ancient and medieval times could not easily be disconnected. Economics, politics and religion were closely interwoven. Put differently, the secularization of the state is one aspect of modernization.
The prevailing view of Western modernity assumes that the dominance of the capitalist market, powerful state institutions and the political ideology of nationalism combined to undermine the power of irrationality and religion in the public sphere, pushing it back into the private realm.
It turns out, however, that this picture of modernity is simplistic. The forces of superstition, faith and religion refused to be expelled from the public spheres of state and government. At the same time, many states do not refrain from using religion for political purposes.
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