The volume describes how the social significance of religion in its various facets has changed in modern societies and pinpoints the factors and conditions that have contributed to these changes. this book is a jolting "must-read" for all students of religion, especially Religious Studies scholars. The broad lesson gleaned from Pollack and Rosta's multi-layered study is that while we can and should subject theories of secularization to critical examination, findings on the ground keep suggesting that modernity brings with it great challenges to the relevance and vitality of religious life.