“世俗化理论”曾是思考现代性处境下宗教之存在方式及其发展走向的最为系统的理论,它所蕴涵的真知灼见和理论困境,都对我们有重要启迪。本文以彼得·伯格在世俗化问题上的立场转变为线索,结合西方学界对不同版本世俗化理论之整体逻辑的分析以及若干主要的理论修正,来把握世俗化理论的核心要素、困境及其意义,并对世俗化思想与现代宗教社会学理论的关系作初步思考。本文强调,二战以后的现代宗教社会学,并非只有“世俗化”与“反世俗化”这两个前后相继的范式,而是存在着具有范式地位的四种理论进路,即规范功能主义进路、社会建构论进路、理性选择进路以及全球化进路。不能认为某个理论进路本身直接就是某种“世俗化理论”。每种进路都有可能作出支持或否定世俗化判断的理论解释。这四种进路对当前的宗教社会学研究仍然都有重要的引导作用,不能认为一种进路已完全取代了另一种进路。 “Secularization Theory ” was the most systematic theory of thinking about the way of existence of religion and its development trend under the condition of modernity. All its insights and theoretical dilemmas are important enlightenment to us. This paper takes Peter Berg’s position on secularization as a clue, analyzes the core logic of secularization in Western scholars and some major theoretical amendments to grasp the core elements of the secularization theory, its predicament and its Significance, and the thought of secularization and the theory of modern religious sociology for the initial thinking. This article emphasizes that the modern sociology of religion after World War II is not only one of two successive paradigms of “secularization ” and “anti-secularization ”, but rather has four theoretical approaches with paradigmatic status Standardize the approach of functionalism, the approach of social constructionism, the path of rational choice and the path of globalization. Can not think of a theoretical approach itself is some kind of “secularization theory ”. It is possible for each approach to make theoretical explanations that support or deny secularization. All these four approaches still play an important guiding role in the current study of religious sociology. We can not think that one approach has completely replaced the other.