THE DENATURATION OF RELIGION

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of religion in modern societies through the sociological use of the biochemical concept of denaturation. Rather than viewing modernization, secularization, digitalization, and consumer culture as forces leading to the disappearance of religion, the study argues that they reshape its forms, institutions, and practices while preserving its core meaning-making, metaphysical, and social functions. Adopting a theoretical and interpretive methodology, the research analyzes modernization and secularization theories alongside studies on digital religion and consumer society. The findings indicate that digitalization decentralizes religious authority and expands religious participation beyond traditional spatial and temporal boundaries. Consumer culture, meanwhile, turns religious symbols and practices into marketable and experiential elements, increasing religion’s public visibility in new ways. Although institutional and collective forms of religion become fragmented, its ontological and ethical functions persist. The study concludes that religion survives as a dynamic and hybrid phenomenon, continuously adapting to modern conditions while maintaining its essential role in individual and social life.