Social Theory and ReligionMany aspects of religion are puzzling these days. This 2003 book looks at ways of improving our understanding of religious change by strengthening the links between social theory and the social scientific study of religion. It clarifies the social processes involved in constructing religion and non-religion in public and private life. Taking illustrations of the importance of these boundaries from studies of secularisation, religious diversity, globalisation, religious movements and self-identity, Beckford reviews social scientific knowledge about religion and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of a wide range of theoretical attempts to account for religious change and continuity. The discussion goes in two directions. The first is towards identifying ways in which studies of religion would benefit from taking better account of themes in recent social theory. The second is towards identifying reasons for social theorists to pay more attention to the findings of empirical investigations of religion. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
analysis approach argue argument aspects assumptions Baubérot Beckford beliefs and practices Berger boundaries challenge Charismatic movements Christian Church claims collective concept conceptualisations context countries counts as religion cults decline developments distinctive empirical ethnic evidence example expressions of religion fact faith communities forms of religion freedom fundamentalism Giddens global globalisation globalising world human rights identity ideological individualisation individuals institutions interest ISKCON Islam Jehovah's Witnesses laïcité late-modern mass media modern Muslims notions NRMs particular Pentecostal perspective phenomena political post-modern privatisation processes questions rational choice theory rationalisation reasons relations relatively religious beliefs religious change religious diversity religious groups religious movements religious organisations religious pluralism sacred scientists secular secularisation self-reflexivity sense significance social and cultural social construction social constructionism social constructionist social movements social scientific study social theory sociologists sociology of religion sphere spirituality study of religion supposedly tend theoretical ideas theorists Thomas Luckmann tradition