What term describes the movement that turns away from traditional religious authority?

Secularization is the term that accurately describes the movement away from traditional religious authority. This concept involves the process by which religion loses its influence over various social and cultural institutions and individual lives as societies become more modernized. Secularization often leads to a greater emphasis on scientific reasoning, individual autonomy, and rational thought, reducing the dominance of religious institutions in public and personal decisions.

This shift can be observed in many aspects of society, including politics, education, and social norms, where religious frameworks are often replaced with secular ones. As a result, people's belief systems can become more diverse and pluralistic, reflecting various ideologies rather than a singular religious authority.

The other terms present an interesting context but do not specifically define the distancing from traditional religious authority. Modernism typically refers to a broad cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though it can encompass elements of secular thought. Post-Modernism challenges the grand narratives and ideologies of modernism, potentially questioning religious frameworks but not specifically focused on turning away from them. Cultural Fusion involves the blending of different cultural elements, including religious practices, without directly implying a departure from traditional authority.