Religion and politics Books

Book SynopsisNorthern Ireland presents a fundamental challenge for the sociology of religion – how do religious beliefs, attitudes and identities relate to practices, violence and conflict? In other words, what does religion do?These interrogations are at the core of this book. It is the first critical and comprehensive review of the ways in which the social sciences have interpreted religion’s significance in Northern Ireland. In particular, it examines the shortcomings of existing interpretations and, in turn, suggests alternative lines of thinking for more robust and compelling analyses of the role(s) religion might play in Northern Irish culture and politics.Through, and beyond, the case of Northern Ireland, the second objective of this book is to outline a critical agenda for the social study of religion, which has theoretical and methodological underpinnings. Finally, this work engages with epistemological issues which never have been addressed as such in the Northern Irish context: how do conflict settings affect the research undertaken on religion, when religion is an object of political and violent contentions? By analysing the scope for objective and critical thinking in such research context, this critical essay intends to contribute to a sociology of the sociology of religion.Table of ContentsIntroduction_ Chapter 1.- Context_ Chapter 2.- Religion, the Great Un-equaliser_ Chapter 3.- Back to the Social_ Chapter 4.- Epistemology in the context of social conflict_ Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe seemingly vitalizing impact of religiosity on civil society is a research topic that has been extensively looked into, not only in the USA, but increasingly also in a European context. What is missing is an evaluation of the role of institutionalized religious communities, and of circumstances that facilitate or impede their status as civil society organisations. This anthology in two volumes aims at closing this gap by providing case studies regarding political, legal and historical aspects in various European countries. Vol. I provides an introduction and looks at cases in Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as chapters on legal issues and data, and comprehensive bibliography.

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Book SynopsisHow does the powerful effect that religion has on public and personal life relate to the various spheres of our culture? Is the relationship between power and religion always negative or can religion also affect individuals and societies positively? This volume of the EuARe Lectures, edited by Herman Selderhuis, collects the texts of the lectures delivered at the Third Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion (2020) on the topic “The Power of Religion / Religion and Power”. Scott Appleby explores the connection, in the religious imagination, among glorifying the divine, sanctifying the mundane and exercising political and cultural power. Cyril Hovorun addresses the issue of the politicization of religion, focusing in particular on Eastern Christian cases. Susanne Schröter offers an insight into the current debate on Islam in Germany. Finally, Kristina Stoeckl analyses the complex relationship among Europe’s new religious conflicts, Russian orthodoxy, American Christian conservatives and the emergence of a European populist right-wing.

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Book Synopsis Are religions like everything else in the world subject of permanent change – in their practices and their doctrines – or are they the perhaps only stable element for people in a world of permanent change? Within the wide field of this discourse alternative, the five authors – Rowan Williams, Judith Wolfe, Guy G. Stroumsa, Vassilis Saroglou and Azza Karam – of the book are discussing various constellations, in which the relation of religion and change with its diverse aspects is illuminated.

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a nuanced and muti-layered approach towards comprehending the possibilities of democratization or likelihood of authoritarian resilience in the Muslim world. The volume highlights the complex diversity within Islamist movements and parties— characterised by internal tensions, struggles and contestations. The very existence of this diversity within and among Islamist movements, and their general willingness to partake in mainstream politics, signals an important transformation in the Muslim world over recent decades. It demonstrates that the Muslim world has gravitated from the simplistic focus on the compatibility or incompatibility of Islam and democracy. Islamist movements and parties embody the multiple manifestations and trajectories within political Islam. The granular case-studies and theological analyses in this volume draw attention to the policy refinements, socio-political reforms and ideological transformations engendered by Muslim intellectuals and Islamist movements and ideologues. The diverse political landscape in the Muslim world is inextricably linked to the socio-political and theological shifts within Islamism—in particular, the yearning for greater social, economic and political justice, a yearning that lies at the core of an inclusive wasatiyyah Islam.Table of Contents1. Introduction: Theological Contestations and Political Coalition-BuildingJohn L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim and Naser Ghobadzadeh2. Islam and Democracy: Perspectives from Reformist and Traditional Islam Mohsen Kadivar3. Democratization of Islamic Political TheologyNaser Ghobadzadeh4. Tunisia’s Ennahda: Islamists Turning the Learning Curve of Democracy and Civic HabituationLarbi Sadiki5.From Moderation to De-Moderation: Democratic Backsliding of the AKP in TurkeyMenderes Çınar6. Negotiating Popular Mandate and the Sovereignty of God in IranShahram Akbarzadeh and James Barry7. Careful What You Wish For: Salafi Islamisation and Authoritarian Governance in MalaysiaLily Zubaidah Rahim8. The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, Democratisation and the Dilemmas of Internal Organisational Reform: Seeking Unity, Finding Division?Paul M. Esber9. The Dilemmas of Dual Resistance: Hamas and Political Learning in GazaMartin Kear10. ConclusionJohn L. Esposito, Lily Zubaidah Rahim and Naser Ghobadzadeh

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