{"product_id":"religion-in-the-contemporary-world-9780745653471","title":"Religion in the Contemporary World","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the new edition of this widely praised text, Alan Aldridge examines the complex realities of religious belief, practice and institutions. Religion is a powerful and controversial force in the contemporary world, even in supposedly secular societies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘The new edition of \u003ci\u003eReligion in the Contemporary World\u003c\/i\u003e is a timely guide to the social significance of religion. It is comprehensive, clear and convincing. Alan Aldridge is to be congratulated for writing such a well informed and readable account of both the routine and the eye-catching aspects of religion in various regions of the world. From “cults” to civil religion, from secularization to state control, and from diversity to identity, the analysis of arguments and examples is challenging and shrewd. This is the sociology of religion at its best.’\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eJames A. Beckford, University of Warwick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e‘Aldridge provides an insightful and thoughtfully engaged discussion of the many varieties of religion in contemporary society. His smooth narrative and timely examples make religion come alive on the page and illuminate why it continues to be such a significant social force.’\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eMichele Dillon, University of New Hampshire\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"This is a well-written and concise book and a thoughtful insight about the meaning and purpose of religion and religious belief for a contemporaneous and social society. This would be an important read for students and scholars interested in the sociological narrative and should certainly be a primary source of reference for those interested in why religion continues to hold its persuasive force.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eBenjamin Bury, Birmingham\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003ePreface to the Third Edition viii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements x\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 Defining Religion: Social Confl icts and Sociological Debates 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eScientology: authentic religion or imposture? 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBaha'i: world faith or apostasy? 7\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReligion and the state 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdvantages of being recognized as a religion 13\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisadvantages of status as a religion 17\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefining people as religious 20\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMax Weber: on not defining religion 22\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eÉmile Durkheim: defining religion sociologically 24\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eContemporary sociological definitions of religion 26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Wittgensteinian approach 30\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 34\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 Secularization: The Social Insignifi cance of Religion? 35\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKarl Marx and the projection theory of religion 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eÉmile Durkheim and the social functions of religion 38\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMax Weber and the disenchantment of the world 41\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefining secularization 49\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecularization from within 50\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDecline of community 52\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarginalization of charisma 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCultural amnesia 56\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePluralization, relativism and consumer choice 57\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReason, rationality and science 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA consensus on dystopia? 64\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 64\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 Secularization Challenged: A New Paradigm? 66\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA secularization theorist recants 66\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA new paradigm 67\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVoluntarism according to Talcott Parsons 69\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe demand for religion: a rational choice? 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe supply of religion: the benefi ts of competition? 75\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrict churches and free-riders 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mormons: a new world faith? 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eJehovah's Witnesses: overcoming the failure of prophecy 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe new paradigm and the rise of the megachurches 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Pentecostals 93\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Dangerous Religions? Sects, Cults and Brainwashing 97\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eClassifying Christian movements 97\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNew religious movements 101\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDynamics of change 107\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe rise of 'brainwashing' 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdentifying potentially destructive movements 119\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fall of 'brainwashing' 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 129\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Dangerous Religions? Fundamentalism 131\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBible believers 132\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFundamentalism and monotheism 134\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeatures of fundamentalism 138\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIslamophobia 142\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 147\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6 Civil Religion and Political Ritual 148\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRitual and social integration: the legacy of Durkheim 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'In God We Trust': civil religion in the United States 149\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe European Union: symbols of an unfi nished project 154\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSymbolic division in society: the peace process in Northern Ireland 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolitical religion in an atheist society: the Soviet Union 157\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolitical religion and charismatic leadership: Nazi Germany 161\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter and society 163\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7 Gender and Sexuality 165\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe subordination of women 165\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReclaiming the symbols of subordination 171\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender-blind religions? 174\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identities 177\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 179\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8 The Spiritual Revolution 181\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGeorg Simmel: an alternative classical view 181\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBelieving without belonging 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom religion to spirituality? 186\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA new age? 191\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePagans 193\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReligion online and online religion 195\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndividualism and the crisis of religious authority 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReligion in consumer society 203\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLived religion and sociological analysis 205\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 206\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9 The Challenge of Diversity 208\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe debate about multiculturalism 208\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrench culture and the veiling of women 210\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA clash of civilizations? 212\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe challenge of diversity 214\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGrassroots responses to diversity 220\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfterword: a culture war? 224\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurther reading 226\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReferences 227\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 247\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John Wiley and Sons Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48865706246487,"sku":"9780745653471","price":18.04,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780745653471.jpg?v=1722275195","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/religion-in-the-contemporary-world-9780745653471","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}