Sociology of Religion for Generations X and Y

by Adam Possamai

This book on the sociology of religion makes specific relevance to the generation X and Y from the very first page. Readers and students from this generation are involved in consumer culture, get part of their knowledge through popular culture and/or the Internet, and are more practical than theoretical. The academic world is in great need for such a work that focuses on the need of these generations, and this is done with this book which is at the intersection of consumer, cyber, and popular culture. Each chapter of this book has as an introduction a case study from popular culture or the Internet to draw the reader into a topic. This narrative device is a key approach to bringing readers and students to the heart of the problem and to explore relevant sociological concepts such as secularisation and the multiple modernisation thesis, re-enchantment, the McDonaldisation of society, and the easternisation of the west; while addressing contemporary phenomenon within, for example, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, New Age, Scientology, and Witchcraft groups on and off line. It also addresses new religious phenomena such as the mixing of religion and popular culture on the Internet as found in new groups such as Jediism and Matrixism. While covering classical works in the field, this book uses the writing of cutting edge theorists to understand where religion and spirituality are coming from, where they are at the moment, and where they might be going. The book also highlights the practical relevance of this sub-discipline to readers and students by exploring what sociologists of religion do outside of universities.

Genres: Textbooks

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2009

Reviews

[Jasbeer Musthafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I strongly recommend this book to the sociology of religion enthusiasts for it meticulously surveys the conceptual frameworks of the discipline.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fresh look at the sociology of religion with interesting case studies of groups/traditions not often covered in similar textbooks. The problem, though, is that it is rather a 'sociology of religion for the western upper (white?) middle class with an internet connection' rather than a generational analysis. There's promise, but the promise ends up being half empirical, half prophecy--which, obviously, is slightly problematic in a book marketed as a reference text. I've written a full review to be published in the journal 'Religion' later this year.

[Duncan Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a part of a literature review on material relating to generational culture and religion. I enjoyed Adam's writing style and his broad overview of the sociology of religion discipline from an Australian and Gen X/Gen Y perspective.