For a long time, religion and power were like two sides of the same coin. Religion legitimized rule, and rule supported religion. This fundamentally changed in the 18th century. Religion now faced competing interests from the state, politics, and social groups. At the same time, there was a rapid secularization and pluralization. The 19th century, in particular, led to the emergence of a multitude of groups and sects. Faith communities that had no connection to Christianity also increasingly came to the fore. This trend continued after the two World Wars. Numerous hybrids and anachronisms emerged, forming an extraordinarily complex structure. Horst Junginger explores the interactions between religion and society and investigates the complex causes of the characteristic pluralities.