| Secularization as an historical process has been identified in the city, in government, and, to some degree, in all the organizations of civilized man. Within these institutions, the complete spectrum from highly religious to dominantly secular can be observed.; This study examines the process of secularization by reviewing the characteristics of one institution. The University of Puget Sound has grown away from the Methodist-Episcopal Church, its founding group, and is now considered an institution loosely affiliated with the United Methodist Church.; The hypotheses examined are: (1) that funding from secular sources encouraged secularization, (2) that the demands of the Church encouraged secularization, (3) that the traditional liberal arts curriculum has suffered under the pressure of professionalization in the curriculum, (4) church-related colleges have assumed a more permissive position with regard to student affective development, (5) that analytic departments have supplemented or replaced departments based on conservation of the faith, (6) that the need for students to balance the budget has encouraged secularization, (7) that the plan for Puget Sound to become an academically respected institution has forced secularization, and (8) that as society became more secular the institution reflected this.; Four areas of change were identified: society, higher education, the institution and the church. As man has become more self-reliant and less dependent on the church for guidance society has become more secular and, therefore, its institutions have become so. Higher education, especially with the advent of the research university, has become more secular. For reasons of growth and survival the university became more secular. Finally, the church, with an emphasis on the Social Gospel also became more conscious of contemporary problems.; For religiously affiliated institutions the findings are clear. Those closely affiliated with the church must receive a large portion of their operating budget from that body or suffer financial failure. Those which diversify will become less closely associated with their founding church. |
