Religion in the Modern World

The people of the Middle Ages did what the Church told them God required. The sovereign consumers of the modern world `pick and mix' their own religions, Starting with the Reformation and ending with New Age spirituality, this book offers a comprehensive sociological description and explanation of the changes in the religious life of Western society that have accompanied modernization. This major new book from a leading sociologist of religion tracks theChurch's changing role from monolith to Sect, to Denomination, and at the end of the twentieth century, to the Cult. What were the forces that brought about this change? What is the real role for theChurch in the modern world? Professor Steve Bruce answers these questions in a clearly argued and accessible way. Including substantial chapters on religion in the USA, religion and ethnicity, and the New Age, Religion in the Modern World is an invaluable resource for students of sociology, religion or history and anyone with a real interest in looking behind the headlines for the place of religion in today's society.

“'This book belongs to a series committed to providing authoritativeintroductions to aspects of the social structure of Britain ... written for ageneration of students who may be as unfamiliar with the nature of religiousdifferences in Britain as with the tools of sociological enquiry. For theuninitiated it provides a good and reliable introduction.'Church of England Newspaper”

I will certainly be requiring my students to read this book. It is an important corrective to too much soft analysis which views every slight up-turn as a sign of religious revival.'Church TimesSteve Bruce, a sociologist with no religious affiliation of his own, has some interesting points to make in his latest book, Religion in the Modern World.'Church of England NewspaperSteve Bruce has written a lucid, concise and well informed ... volume ... It is good to find such a robust, well written and compact defence of the secularization thesis ... The author's command of his topic is impressive ... it is good to see such a well written study.'Contemporary ReviewThis book belongs to a series committed to providing authoritative introductions to aspects of the social structure of Britain ... written for a generation of students who may be as unfamiliar with the nature of religious differences in Britain as with the tools of sociological enquiry. For the uninitiated it provides a good and reliable introduction.'Church of England NewspaperBruce is always fair to those who present another perspective on contemporary religion. He is just as lucid in dealing with the new religions and the "New Age" ... as in his analysis of the mainstream Churches ... his book is ... something of a tour de force, in which there is scarcely a page which lacks one or another arresting and challenging ideas.'Bryan Wilson, The TabletBruce sets out with admirable clarity both the evidence for and arguments in favour of the secularization thesis ... Bruce's book should be read by all those who want to faimiliarize themselves with this thesis-it's origins developments and conclusions; for a clearer and better written account would be difficult to find. sa subtle but swift-moving argument which draws illustrative material from widely diverse contexts ... Although contentious, Bruce is always fair to those who present another perspective on contemporary religion. He is just as lucid in dealing with the new religions and the "New Age" ... as in his analysis of the mainstream Churches ... something of a tour de force, in which there is scarcely a page which lacks one or another arresting and challengingidea.'John Rowe Townsend, The Tabletenormous scope, ambition, verve and confidence. Religion in the Modern World draws upon an impressive range of statistical evidence to support its account of the dramatic decline of religion in recent times. Bruce's grand narrative of secularisation is ambitious, well told, involving, and internally coherent...an excellent textbook for students - far better at stimulating their critical faculties than something more "balanced" and "objective". It will be avaluable exercise to get students to read this powerful restatement of the secularisation thesis alongside the qually strong claims currently being made for "desecularisation" by soliologists likeBerger. - Lind Woodhead. Relion. January 1998.

Steve Bruce is Professor of Sociology at the University of Aberdeen. He is the author of many books, including Religion in Modern Britain, The Rise and Fall of the New Christian Right, The Red Hand, and The Edge of the Union, and the co-editor of The Rapture of Politics: The Christian Right as the United States Approaches the Year 2000.

The people of the Middle Ages did what the Church told them God required. The sovereign consumers of the modern world `pick and mix' their own religions, Starting with the Reformation and ending with New Age spirituality, this book offers a comprehensive sociological description and explanation of the changes in the religious life of Western society that have accompanied modernization. This major new book from a leading sociologist of religion tracks the Church's changing role from monolith to Sect, to Denomination, and at the end of the twentieth century, to the Cult. What were the forces that brought about this change? What is the real role for the Church in the modern world? Professor Steve Bruce answers these questions in a clearly argued and accessible way. Including substantial chapters on religion in the USA, religion and ethnicity, and the New Age, Religion in the Modern World is an invaluable resource for students of sociology, religion or history and anyone with a real interest in looking behind the headlines for the place of religion in today's society.

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