Author of the book "Le XXIème siècle du Christianisme", the political scientist Dominique Reynié details on Europe 1 the various factors which explain the resurgence of the religious fact in recent years.
He points in particular to the crisis of political discourse.
INTERVIEW
Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus ... With 84% of humanity declaring a religious affiliation, "there have never been as many believers as today" in the world.
This is what Dominique Reynié, Director General of the Foundation for Political Innovation, writes in his latest book entitled
L
e XXIème siècle du Christianisme
.
Invited from Europe 1 on Tuesday, the political scientist details the main factors explaining this recent development.
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This return of the religious to the world level can be "astonishing" seen from France, recognizes the researcher.
Because France is a country which "despite its heavy and deep religious past, was convinced to have finished with these big questions".
High fertility within religions
The first explanation identified by the political scientist is demographic.
"There is a demographic development of beliefs," he notes.
Thus, he recalls, "Christian women have a fertility rate of 2.6 children (2.9 for Muslims) while the average is 1.6 children for non-believers".
And to add: "Religions are carried by their own procreation."
Search for meaning and the crisis of political discourse
Another factor: an increasingly unstable world, "with major subjects which call us to think, to take a stand", and marked by the fear that globalization can arouse in a part of the population.
"We are withdrawing, we are looking for forms of solidarity, forms of explanations, of interpretations", explains Dominique Reynié.
This search for answers in religion can be explained all the more so that today, "the political discourse is in crisis, and not that in France", adds the guest of Europe 1. "We have to it's hard to find an interpretive discourse that tells us where we're going, and therefore there is once again a valuation of religion. "
Collapse of institutions
In his book, Dominique Reynié also evokes a progressive collapse of institutions during the 20th century, which allowed the increase in mistrust of them, and therefore the withdrawal of many towards religion.
But should this comeback of religion in France worry?
It all depends on the form it takes, responds the guest from Europe 1. "It can be a promise, an opportunity, a threat or a danger," said Dominique Reynié.
"If this is a way to find oneself in a community of reflection and socialization, it is a good thing ... But if it takes precedence over the ideas on which the Republic is founded, it becomes extremely perilous."