Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization

Cragun (sociology, Univ. of Tampa; coauthor, Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society) and Smith (sociology, Western Michigan Univ.; coeditor, Secularity and Nonreligion in North America) present a sociological overview of what causes people to abandon their religious beliefs. The book’s introduction includes an astonishing 74 endnotes. The authors’ approach to their subject matter is well-organized, with chapters titled “Who Is Leaving?,” “Why Are They Leaving?,” “Where Do They Go?,” “What Happens to Them?,” and “How Is This Affecting Society?” Their analyses of the answers to these questions demonstrate that the overall number of people who are staying or converting to a religion is declining, whereas a similar rate of people—of various ages, races, incomes, and more—leaving organized religions is increasing. They also interweave anecdotes from various perspectives, which provides readers with excellent insight. Due to the frequent use of formal language specific to the field of sociology, the overall tone of this book is similar to that of a textbook or research article.