Final answer:
Secularization refers to the declining influence of religion in society due to modernization, while secularism is an ideology promoting the separation of religion from state governance. In the U.S., despite its relatively high religiosity, there is an increasing trend of individuals identifying with no religion, indicating a move towards secularization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Secularization is a societal and cultural process through which the influence of religion declines as a result of modernization, specifically in terms of its impact on societal institutions, daily life, and individual identity. This concept has been anticipated by historical sociologists such as Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx, who associated it with the modernization of society leading to a decrease in the influence of religion. On the other hand, secularism is an ideology or movement advocating for the separation of religious institutions from state governance or for ensuring that public policy is free from religious influence.
In the United States, despite being perceived as a relatively religious nation among industrialized democracies, there is evidence of increasing secularization. For example, a Gallup survey found 65 percent of U.S. adults said religion was important in their daily lives, which is higher in comparison to other nations like Sweden where it's only 17 percent. However, the number of Americans identifying with no religion rose to 26 percent from 17 percent in just a decade, according to a Pew Poll, indicating a trend towards secularization. Reasons for this shift vary and include formal abandonment, drifting away, or embracing spirituality without ties to organized religion.
The consequences of secularization are complex and multifaceted, affecting not just personal belief systems but also the larger social norms, values, and power structures within society.