Review and Criticism of Thomas Luckmann’s Theory of Invisible Religion

Abstract

This study examines the place of religion in modern societies and explains the mechanisms of its transformation by drawing on Husserl’s phenomenological thought alongside a reinterpretation of Thomas Luckmann’s sociological approach. It shows how Alfred Schutz introduced concepts such as the lifeworld, intersubjectivity, the constitution of consciousness, and mental representation into the sociology of religion, and how these concepts later became foundational to Luckmann’s analysis of “invisible religion.” Methodologically, the research relies on documentary analysis, theoretical critique, and conceptual analysis to explore the relationship between social structures and new forms of religious meaning-making. The findings indicate that religion in the modern era has neither disappeared nor remains exclusively identifiable through traditional institutions; rather, at an individual and privatized level, it continues to provide meaning. The study further argues that many criticisms of Luckmann’s theory of “privatization” stem from inattention to its conceptual foundations or from hasty generalizations. Ultimately, the research contends that careful attention to social and historical contexts enables the prediction of patterns of religious transformation across different societies. The contribution of this study lies in its critical re-reading of Luckmann’s approach and in highlighting its utility for understanding religion in the modern age.