Description
Secularization and Its Discontents provides an illuminating overview of major current debates in the sociology of religion, exploring changing patterns of religious practice in the West during the past 150 years. Examining classical secularization theory as well as modified versions that allow for difference between national and social contexts, Rob Warner also explores the proposed post-secularization paradigm, as well as its close offshoot, rational choice theory. Possibilities for a spiritual revolution and the feminisation of religion are scrutinised, and also theories of the durability of conservative religion. The author goes on to develop a new interpretation of resilient religion from an analysis of 21st century trends in religious participation. These are categorised as entrepreneurial and experiential-therapeutic, before the volume finally focuses upon individual identity construction through autonomous religious consumption.
This book provides a clear and penetrating overview of theoretical frameworks and develops a new theoretical synthesis derived from fresh examination of empirical data, and will be of interest to academics and students in religious studies, practical theology and the sociology of religion.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Classical Secularization Theory
Empirical data of church decline
The intellectual context of church decline
Individualism and rationalization
Further dynamics of secularization
Secularization theory and the marginality of religion
2. Modified Secularization Theory
Diverse European trajectories
Believing without belonging
Different types of religion, divergent viabilities
Gendering secularization
3. A New Paradigm and RCT
Towards a new paradigm
American empirical data
Rational choice theory (RCT)
Berger and Euro-secularity
4. Is There a ‘Spiritual Revolution’?
From life-as religion to spiritualities of life
Theoretical engagement with New Age and neo-paganism
Critiques of the alleged revolution
The reconfiguration of religion
Globalisation and public religion
5. The Durability of Conservative Religion
Theories of durability
The fundamentalist turn
Bifurcating trends
Moderate traditionalism
Modified conservatism
6. Resilient religion: emerging trends
Entrepreneurial religion
Experiential-therapeutic religion
Autonomous religious consumption
The emergent religious market
Bibliography
Index
Author(s)
Rob Warner,
Dr Rob Warner is Professor of Religion, Culture and Society, and Head of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester, Chester, Uk.