What is the term for the process where religion loses its influence on other social institutions?

The term that describes the process where religion loses its influence on other social institutions is secularization. This concept refers to the gradual decline of the power and importance of religious beliefs and institutions in public life and governance. As societies modernize, there is often a shift towards rational thinking, scientific reasoning, and a focus on empirical evidence, which can lead to a diminished role of religious explanations in areas such as education, politics, and law. This transformation reflects broader changes in societal values, where traditional religious authority may become less relevant in guiding social norms and behaviors.

Modernization generally refers to the overall process of social change that accompanies industrialization and includes various societal transformations, not solely the reduction of religion's influence. Desecularization suggests a revival or strengthening of religious influence, which contrasts with the concept of secularization. Disenchantment refers to a sense of alienation and loss of meaning, particularly in a scientific or rationalized view of the world, rather than the specific interaction between religion and various social institutions. Thus, the term secularization accurately captures the diminishing role of religion as societies evolve.