Abstract
This paper critically examines the prospect of an Islamic secularization in the Western context, ultimately arguing that religious orthodoxy in general is not likely to survive in a liberal democratic context. By examining the current economic, political, and social conditions of Muslims living in Western Europe and the United States, this paper will first argue that despite numerous obstacles, Muslims are generally willing and able to be active participants in a Western, liberal democratic context. Later, a theoretical foundation for secularization is presented, according to which the secularization process can be defined as loss of religious authority. This paper asserts that the loss of religious authority in the liberal democratic context is achieved through the rationalization process, which socially legitimizes non-religious alternatives. Lastly, it will be asserted that secularization is achievable in a religious context, using the advent of Reform Judaism as a historical example. Bearing this in mind, this paper argues that Islamic religious authority is likely to wane in the West, and that religious orthodoxy in general will struggle to survive in a liberal democratic, pluralistic context.