Postmodernists argue that in recent years, western societies have undergone major economic and cultural changes. We have changed from a modern to a postmodern society, and this has had a big impact on the religious beliefs that we hold. For example, in a traditional society, a person is born into a religion, they will learn about that religion from a young age and it will shape their personality and lives. However, in modern society, people have become disillusioned with the stories, or metanarratives, of the major religions, with the increase in rational thinking and scientific discoveries and advancements, in science and technology, leading to traditional religion experiencing secularisation and losing influence over society and its people, with church attendance at an all-time low. At the same time, postmodernists argue that new religious movements (NRMs) are now growing, as people want to fulfil something spiritual in their lives, as they have become tired of the materialistic, money driven society we live in today, alluding to the argument that religion may not be disappearing, but just changing to fit a postmodern society.
Hervieu-Leger suggests that religion has declined due to 'cultural amnesia'. In the past, religion was handed down to children by the family, the school and Sunday school. But this tradition has now broken down, meaning that children today are less likely to get a religious identity from their family, so they know much less about traditional religion. Postmodernists argue that the emphasis in postmodern society is for the individual to make choices in their lives about their own personal identity. This has had a number of effects on the nature of religion. Firstly, Hervieu-Leger says that individual consuming has become more important than what religion you are born into. People no longer follow a religion without question or see religion