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In the mid to late 20th century, many predominantly Catholic regions like Ireland and Quebec experienced rapid secularization, shifting from strong Catholic influence to more secular societies.

During the early modern period, governments in Catholic Europe, such as Spain and France, collaborated with noblemen to suppress the merchant classes, leading to a decline in economic prosperity compared to Northwestern Europe.

The Catholic Church in medieval Europe allowed for a surprising amount of political discourse, providing structures for what could be agreed upon and what could not. This openness to disagreement is a notable aspect of the Church's influence at the time.

Napoleon, who rose to military dictator, made a deal with the Pope to bring Catholicism back because he thought religion was necessary to social functioning. This was after the French Revolution, which was atheist and persecuted Catholicism in France, the most populous Catholic nation in the world.

Atheism became dominant in 18th century France due to resentment towards the Catholic Church's rigidity and the lack of religious freedom. This secular tradition developed in response to a strong centralized government and the Church's resistance to change.

In France, secularism is seen as a moral good, whereas in Anglo-Saxon countries, religion is viewed as a social stabilizer and a good trait to have. This reflects a significant cultural difference in how religion is perceived across these regions.