"All theory of modernity in sociology suggests that the more modernity there is, the less religion. In my theory we can realize that this is wrong: atheism is only one belief system among many"

Ulrich Beck's quote challenges the standard sociological viewpoint that modernity naturally correlates with a decrease in religious belief, presuming rather that atheism is simply one among many belief systems that can exist side-by-side within a modern-day society. Generally, sociological theory of modernity argues that as societies advance highly and scientifically, they tend to move away from spiritual frameworks towards more nonreligious, rational modes of thinking. This process, typically described as secularization, recommends a linear progression where increased knowledge and modernization lead to a decrease in religious adherence.

Beck, however, questions this narrative by proposing that atheism, often viewed as the endpoint of secularization, is itself a belief system. This perspective highlights that contemporary societies do not always abandon belief completely; rather, they diversify in their belief systems. Atheism, as a conscious option to disbelieve or avoid religious faith, stands alongside other belief systems such as humanism, spiritual but not spiritual identities, and conventional spiritual practices, all of which coexist in contemporary social structures.

His argument most likely stems from the observation that, regardless of substantial advances in modernity, religious beliefs and spirituality remain prominent in lots of societies. The perseverance of religious pluralism in sectors of the world recommends that modernity doesn't necessarily diminish faith but changes it. Moreover, Beck suggests that modernity can cause the expansion of diverse belief systems as societies expand their understanding of the world, culture, and identity.

By framing atheism as one belief system amongst lots of, Beck highlights the complexity of human belief and cultural development, advocating for a more nuanced view of the relationship in between modernity and faith. This viewpoint expands the discourse on secularization, advising sociologists and thinkers to reconsider how modernity affects not the existence of belief per se, but the forms that belief takes in the contemporary period.