Religion in Consumer Society

Brands, Consumers and Markets

François Gauthier author Tuomas Martikainen editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:26th Aug '16

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Religion in Consumer Society cover

Presenting an overview of an emerging field in the study of contemporary religion, this book, together with a complementary volume Religion in the Neoliberal Age, explores issues of religion, neoliberalism and consumer society. Claiming that we have entered a new phase that implies more than the recasting of state-religion relations, the authors examine how religious changes are historically anchored in modernity but affected by the commoditization, mediatization, neoliberalization and globalization of society and social life. Religion in Consumer Society explores religion as both shaped by consumer culture and as shaping consumer culture. Following an introduction which critically analyses studies on consumer culture and integrates scholarship in the sociology of religion, this book explores the following topics: how consumerism and electronic media have shaped globalized culture, and how this is affecting religion; the dynamics and characteristics of often overlooked middle-class religion, and how these relate to globalization and differences between 'developed' and 'emerging' countries; emerging trends, and how we understand phenomena as different as mega churches and holistic spiritualistic journeys, and how the pressures of consumer culture act on religious traditions, indigenous and exogenous; the politics of religious phenomena in the Age of Neoliberalism; and the hybrid areas emerging from these reconfigurations of religion and the market. Outlining changes in both the political-institutional and cultural spheres, the contributors offer an international overview of developments in different countries and state of the art representation of religion in the new global political economy.

’This timely book on the study of religion and consumerism opens new perspectives in, and is a major contribution to, this field of study. It brings together leading and emergent scholars to push our knowledge of religion and spirituality further.’ Adam Possamai, University of Western Sydney, Australia ’This is an extremely valuable book-on two counts. Firstly, it exhibits a high degree of theoretical adventurousness as it explores the relationship between religion and consumer culture. Secondly, its editors have clearly encouraged the contributors to think broadly: the chapters cover a tremendous amount of territory without trying to create a premature accord. Together with its companion volume, Religion in the Neoliberal Age, it promotes a creative rethinking of the nature of religion in the contemporary world. Sociology needs such creativity, if it is to understand religion’s emerging forms.’ Journal of Contemporary Religion

ISBN: 9781138247727

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 385g

268 pages