The New Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Religion

Reflecting the very latest developments in the field, this companion provides a comprehensive introduction to the sociology of religion with a clear emphasis on comparative and historical approaches. Covering all the areas relevant to undergraduate courses in this area, the companion begins by laying down the anthropological and sociological foundations of the study of religion and their contemporary developments. It continues with an analysis of both traditional and contemporary forms of organization, such as church––sect typologies as well as “megachurches” and modern forms of spirituality. The secularization and post–secular society debates are considered in depth along with the globalization process, fundamentalism, charismatic movements, and revivalism. It also discusses the sociology of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and religions of China, as well as the areas of American exceptionalism from de Tocqueville onwards, religious nationalism, women and piety movements, and the spirituality of Native American communities.
Considering new developments in social theory and religion, the collection concludes with a discussion of recent work that attempts to understand the future of religion, blending the sociology of modern societies, anthropological ethnography, and philosophical inquiry.

Spis treści:
Notes on Contributors.
Introduction: Mapping the Sociology of Religion (Bryan S. Turner, City University of New York).
Part I: The Foundations.
1. The Sociology of Religion: The Foundations (Andrew McKinnon, University Aberdeen).
2. Durkheim and After: Religion, Culture, and Politics (William Ramp, University of Lethbridge).
3. The Functional Theory of Religion (Victor Lidz, Drexel University).
4. Recent Developments in the Anthropology of Religion (Simon Coleman, University of Sussex).
Part II: From Secularization to Resacralizati on.
5. Secularization (Steve Bruce, Formerly University of Aberdeen).
6. American Exceptionalism? (John Torpey, City University of New York).
7. Resacralization (Grace Davie, University of Exeter).
Part III: New Developments.
8. Rational Choice and the Sociology of Religion (David Lehmann, University of Cambridge).
9. The Religious Habitus: Embodiment, Religion, and Sociological Theory (Philip A. Mellor, University of Leeds; Chris Shilling, University of Kent).
10. Women, Religions, and Feminisms (Fang–Long Shih, London School of Economics).
Part IV: Institutionalization: Old and New Forms.
11. New Research on Megachurches: Non–denominationalism and Sectarianism (Stephen Ellingson, Hamilton College).
12. The Sociology of Spirituality: Reflections on a Problematic Endeavor (Matthew Wood, Queen’s University).
13. Arguing against Darwinism: Religion, Science, and Public Morality (Michael S. Evans and John H. Evans, both University of California).
Part V: Sociology of Comparative Religions.
14. The Sociology of Early Christianity: From History to Theory, and Back Again (Joseph M. Bryant, University of Toronto).
15. Judaism: Covenant, Pluralism, and Piety (Alan Mittleman, Jewish Theological Seminary).
16. Sociology and Anthropology of Islam: A Critical Debate (Gabriele Marranci, National University of Singapore).
17. Approaches to the Study of Buddhism (Catherine Newell, formerly University of London).
18. Sociology of Hinduism (Pratap Kumar Penumala, University of KwaZulu Natal).
19. Religious Awakening in China under Communist Rule: A Political Economy Approach (Fenggang Yang, Purdue University).
20. Native American Religious Traditions: A Sociological Approach (Dennis F. Kelley, Iowa State University).
Part VI: Globalization.
21. Globalization an d the Sociology of Religion (Lionel Obadia, University of Lyon 2).
22. Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements in a Global Perspective (Afe Adogame, University of Edinburgh).
23. Fundamentalism (Richard T. Antoun, State University of New York).
24. Religion, Media, and Globalization (Jeremy Stolow, Concordia University).
25. Toward a Sociology of Religious Commodification (Pattana Kitiarsa, National University of Singapore).
26. Women and Piety Movements (Rachel Rinaldo, University of Virginia).
27. Religion and Nationalism: A Critical Re–examination (Geneviève Zubrzycki, University of Michigan).
Part VII: The Future of Religion.
28. The Future of Religion (Andrew Wernick, Trent University).
29. Religion in a Post–secular Society (Bryan S. Turner, City University of New York).
Index.

Nota biograficzna:
The Editor
Bryan S. Turner is the Presidential Professor of Sociology at the City University of New York Graduate School and Director of the Committee on Religion and Director of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. He was Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and subsequently Professor of Sociology in the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Professor Turner was an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Bielefeld University, Germany, a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, the Alona Evans Distinguished Visiting Professor at Wellesley College, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. He recently published The Body and Society, third edition (2008), and edited The New Blackwell Companion to Social Theory (2009).

Okładka tylna:
Reflecting the very latest developments in the field, this companion provides a comprehensive introduction to the sociology of religion with a clear emphasis on comparative and historical approaches. Covering all the areas relevant to undergraduate courses in this area, the companion begins by laying down the anthropological and sociological foundations of the study of religion and their contemporary developments. It continues with an analysis of both traditional and contemporary forms of organization, such as church––sect typologies as well as “megachurches” and modern forms of spirituality. The secularization and post–secular society debates are considered in depth along with the globalization process, fundamentalism, charismatic movements, and revivalism. It also discusses the sociology of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and religions of China, as well as the areas of American exceptionalism from de Tocqueville onwards, religious nationalism, women and piety movements, and the spirituality of Native American communities.
Considering new developments in social theory and religion, the collection concludes with a discussion of recent work that attempts to understand the future of religion, blending the sociology of modern societies, anthropological ethnography, and philosophical inquiry.