Theorising Religion

James A. Beckford is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick, UK, and John Walliss is Lecturer in Sociology at Liverpool Hope University, UK.

'There is a real need in the sociology of religion for competent theoretical thinking that connects the sub-discipline with the sociological mainstream. This book represents a real attempt to do better - to make good an evident deficiency.' Grace Davie, University of Exeter, UK 'Research libraries on religion should have the volume.' International Review of Biblical Studies ’With the range of topics covered this work could be adopted by undergraduate and postgraduate students to explore the domain of religion from different perspectives, and for a general overview of the theories and methods already applied and of those potentially applicable in the future.’ Culture and Religion ’... the editors have managed to present a variety of sociological insights on the changing role of religion... the volume Beckford and Walliss have edited provides us with a rich source for sociological theorising on religion. As it discusses past sociological theory and contemporary debates and suggests future perspectives, this book will definitely affect the theoretical debate within the sociology of religion for many years to come. ’ Journal of Contemporary Religion

• Contents: Introduction, James A. Beckford and John Walliss. Part I Classical Roots: Religion as an elementary aspect of society: Durkheim's legacy for social theory, Philip A. Mellor; Weber, rationalisation, and religious evolution in the modern era, Colin Campbell; Spiritualism and the (re)enchantment of modernity, John Walliss; Trajectories of faith in the global age: classical theory and contemporary evidence, Frank J. Lechner; 'Magico-popular religion' in contemporary society: towards a post-western sociology of religion, Cristián Parker. Part II New Growth: Religion in ultramodernity, Jean-Paul Willaime; Theodicy, distribution of risk, and reflexive modernisation: explaining the cultural significance of new religious movements, Robert A. Campbell; Privatisation, globalisation and religious innovation: Giddens' theory of modernity and the refutation of secularisation theory, Lorne L. Dawson; From creeds to burgers: religious control, spiritual search and the future of the world, John Drane; Understanding honour and religion as resource and constraint for young British Asians, Hannah Bradby; Preference structures and normative constraints in movements outside, between and within religious organisations, Darren E. Sherkat. Part III Fresh Blooms: Narrative versus theory in the sociology of religion: five stories of religion's place in the late modern world, James V. Spickard; 'A minimalist sociology of religion'?, James A. Beckford; New media, niche markets, and the body: excarnate and hypercarnate challenges for theory and theology, David Lyon; Inner speech and religious traditions, Douglas J. Davies; Sickness and salvation: social theories of the body in the sociology of religion, Freda Mold; Breaching bleaching: integrating studies of 'race' and ethnicity with the sociology of religion, Matthew Wood. Index.