Understanding the sociology of religion / Staf Hellemans (professor emeritus in the sociology of religion, School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands).

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hellemans, Staf, author.

Contributor:

Edward Elgar Publishing, publisher.

Series:

Understanding series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and sociology.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (192 pages)

Place of Publication:

Northampton : Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026.

Summary:

"This illuminating book provides an essential overview of the sociology of religion. Staf Hellemans explores the core concepts and rationales that have been developed since the discipline expanded in the West after 1960, shedding light on existing literature and future avenues of research. Hellemans surveys the debate on secularization, on whether, why and how the major religions of the world are in long-term decline. With a particular focus on Christianity, the book engages with the interpretation of religious change and its links to modernity, assessing how 'the great transformation of religion' has spurred the reconceptualisation of religion at the macro, meso and micro levels. Chapters investigate the theorization of spirituality, diffuse religiosity, non-specific religion, and sacralizations in a time of wandering religiosity, explaining how these are accounted for by sociologists. The book looks at the coming globalization of the sociology of religion and the possible marginalization of this subdiscipline. Understanding the Sociology of Religion is an essential read for students and scholars in sociology, religious studies, theology, and anthropology. Researchers of the history of religion and other academics will also benefit from its topical insights on the field"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Contents: 1. Introduction: Sociology and the great transformation of religion

1.1. The great transformation of religion

1.2. The sociology of religion: A short history and the postwar rise of an academic subdiscipline

1.3. Concepts as perspectives

1.4. Set-up and limitations of the book

2. The secularization debate

2.1. Context and history of the sociological debate

2.2. 1960-1980: Secularization as the decline of religion

2.3. An aside on internal secularization

2.4. Three fundamental criticisms

2.5. Differentiation and secularization

2.6. After 1980 I: Modifications of the decline narrative

2.7. After 1980 II: Three unconvincing total rejections

2.8. After 2010: From European exception to global trend

2.9. The other side: The secular, the nones, secularities and the post-secular

2.10. No last word

3. Religious change and modernity in the major religions, particularly in Christianity

3.1. The Weber thesis: The ascetic Protestant ethic as one driving force behind the rise of capitalism

3.2. Sociologists and the public discourse on religion and modernity

3.3. Usa: Denominations in a modern society

3.4. Europe: How to think the embeddedness of religion in modernity

3.5. Some notes on Eastern religions in the West, a sociology of Islam, and a sociology of world religions

3.6. The big picture: The major religions in the light of human history

4. Conceptualizing religion on the macro, meso and micro levels

4.1. New concepts to make sense of the great transformation of religion

4.2. Macro level I: A weak religious field

4.3. Macro level Ii: Processes and dynamics in the religious field

4.4. Meso level: Concepts for religious groups, organizations, and movements

4.5. Micro level: Religious agents and their individualized practices

5. Conceptualizing diffuse religiosity and non-specific religion

5.1. Ever more elusive religion

5.2. The religion of Humanity / humanity

5.3. Luckmann's 'Invisible Religion'

5.4. New Religious Consciousness and Sheilaism in the Usa

5.5. 'Believing without belonging' (Grace Davie)

5.6. Galaxy spirituality

5.7. Popular culture and hyper-real religion, fiction-based religion, invented religion

5.8. How to approach non-specific religion?

5.9. Varieties of non-specific religion

5.10. 'The sacred' as super-taxon

6. Epilogue: Assessing the sociology of religion

6.1. Looking back

6.2. The coming globalization of the sociology of religion

6.3. Is there a future for the sociology of religion as a subdiscipline?

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print record.

ISBN:

9781035312016 (e-book)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.