Religion in Western Society

Abstract

This series, published in conjunction with the British Sociology Association, evaluates and reflects major developments in contemporary sociology. The books focus on key changes in social and economic life in recent years and on the ways in which the discipline of sociology has analysed those changes. The books reflect the state of the art in contemporary British sociology, while at the same time drawing upon comparative material to set debates in an international perspective. This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. Published Graham

Re-imagining bisexuality and Christianity: The negotiation of Christianity in the lives of bisexual women and men

“…Bruce argues that types or forms of Christianity which are not rooted in institutional Christianity and promote ideas of self-worship and pluralism do not qualify as religions. However, both Yip (2003) and Hunt (2002) suggest that this turn to more individualised faith, or faith constructed around the self simply represents a different type of Christianity, or merely different worship methods. Therefore the decline in denominational Christianity (as shown in my data) does not represent a decline in Christianity, rather a shift in the type of Christianity practised.…”

“Whatever Works”

“…On this basis, some theorists argued that traditional religious belief systems and norms would eventually be replaced by secularism, derived from the Latin word 'saeculum' meaning 'the present world'. Theorists such as Weber (1907) and later Berger (1967) predicted that faith and religious authority would fade in influence with increasing modernization and the dominance of a rational worldview which became known as 'secularization theory' (Hunt 2002). Signs of secularization included the separation of church and state, the disappearance of religious symbols in public celebration, and the decline in religious content in the arts, philosophy and literature (Chaves 1994;Lambert 1999).…”

“…''We will build a church in the marketplace, for the marketplace, to penetrate the marketplace'' (City Harvest Church, Singapore) Religion is a social phenomenon filled with paradoxes, contradictions and ambiguities (Hunt 2002) and theories abound that attempt to explain its definition, characteristics, social roles, growth and decline. In the first half of the twentieth century, theorists such as Weber (1907), predicted religion's decline (the 'secularization thesis', Hunt 2002) with the ascendance of scientific rationality, modernization and economic development. However, the advance of Christianity in rapidly developing countries in the Southern hemisphere defies this prediction (James 2015;Jenkins 2002).…”

Multirreligiosidad en la Ciudad de México

“…También podemos mencionar el fenómeno de la misma eucaristía en la liturgia católica: ¿acaso este ejercicio sacramental (milagro) no fue puesto en cuestionamiento por los calvinistas, precisamente por contener aspectos demasiados magizados, como el hecho de transformar espontáneamente el pan y el vino sagrados en el cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo?16 Nos referimos principalmente a las teorías de la secularización que hacen referencia a la racionalización (Weber, Bryan y Wilson), a la mundialización, a la diferenciación (funcionalismo), pluralización(Berger), privatización (Luckmann), generalización (corriente durkhemiana: Parsons, Bellah), declinación (Wilson), utilitarismo (Rodney Stark). VéaseHunt (2002) yCasanova (1994).17 Por supuesto que frente a tantas interpretaciones y explicaciones teóricas en torno a la secularización, es por el momento prematuro hablar en términos de paradigma. Lo que sí es cierto es que muchos análisis, laboratorios en ciencia social, teorías sociológicas, etc.…”

“…giran en torno a este tema haciendo recurso de la secularización para tratar de explicar fenómenos societales modernos y contemporáneos, incluidos los de la religiosidad. VéaseHunt (2002) yCasanova (1994).…”