Religion, Culture & Society

Andrew Singleton is Associate Professor Of Sociology And Social Research at Deakin University, Australia.

Introduction: Religion, Culture and Society PART ONE: MAKING SENSE OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS CHANGE: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES What Is Religion and Spirituality? Modern Times: Classical Approaches in the Social Scientific Study of Religion Twentieth-century Challenges, twentieth-century Thinkers Towards Contemporary Theorizing: Secularization, the 'Religious Economy' and Globalization Studying Contemporary Religion: Methods and Data PART TWO: WINDS OF CHANGE: RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD Post-Christian Nations? Christianity's Decline in Great Britain, Australia and Canada One Nation under God? American 'Exceptionalism' Christian Vitality? Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America Buddhism and Hinduism in a Globalized World The Rise of the Global Ummah? Recent Trends in Islam 'Lived' Religion in Everyday Life The End of Religion? The New Atheism and Secularism The Future of Religion? Young People, Religion and Spirituality

A very nice introduction to the sociology of religion for undergraduate students and non-academic readers...Theoretically informed, substantively rich, and easy reading, I recommend Singleton's book as a valuable orientation to the sociological study of religion. -- Christian Smith The reader is taken on a global exploration of the forms and diversities of religions and their social and cultural contexts... It is up to the minute in research and theory, and comfortably grounded in the traditions of the social explanation of things religious and spiritual. -- Gary Bouma AM Tells how sociology of religion originated in the work of key nineteenth and twentieth century theorists and then brings the story into the present era of globalization, hybrid spirituality, and the Internet. Students of religion will find this an engaging and informative survey of the field. -- Robert Wuthnow It considers the 'big questions' - What is religion? How is religion changing in a modern world? What is the future of religion? - and addresses them through tangible case studies and observations of contemporary life. Its global perspective reflects the breadth, diversity and vibrancy of this field. -- Sylvia Collins-Mayo