Religion in Today's World

Global Issues, Sociological Perspectives

Melissa Wilcox

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781317796633
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sciences sociales
• Subtopic: Sociologie

Religion is a major force in contemporary society. It is also one of the least understood social and political influences on individuals and communities. In this innovative collection of original essays and classic readings, experts explore the significance of contemporary religiosity: as a source of meaning and motivation, how it unites and divides us, and how it is used politically and culturally. Readers will be introduced to the broad debates in ways that will equip them to analyze, discuss, and make their own judgments about religion and society. This book should be read by anyone interested in understanding religion as a central source of meaning and politics, and is ideally suited for undergraduate teaching on religion and social issues and from a global perspective.

Glossary Index

Abalos, David 253

abolitionist movement 216, 241

aboriginal religious practices 6–7

aborigines: American 181; Australians 6–7

abortion: and Christian Identity 191; and the Christian right 186, 187–188, 191; strategy of incrementalism 357

abortion clinics bombings 187

Abrahamic religions: The family of religions that trace their roots to God’s covenant with Abraham; i.e., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

absorption, and intergenerational transmission of trauma 477

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 326

Acharya Shri Koshalendraprasadji 427

achieved religiosity 62

activism: anticult 488; community 334; gay/lesbian 319, 355; Islamic 290; peace/nonviolent 362; political 372; radical/American Quakers 364; religious 362–363; social 322, 362; for social justice 332; United States 185, 186

activity, associational 106

“Adam’s pure blood seed-line” 191

adaption strategies, religious institutions 69–70

adhesive assimilation: Assimilation through adhering one’s culture to the receiving culture 413

admonitio 20

Adorno, Theodor & Horkheimer, Max 514

aesthetic perspective 27

affirmation 24–25

African American communities, religion in 216 see also black Americans; Negro(es)

African disaporic religions: Religions that blend West African indigenous traditions with Roman Catholicism; e.g., Vodou, Santería 219

African Methodist Church 241

age: and the holistic milieu 12, 101–102; and voluntary associations 109n.14

agency: The ability to act in one’s own interest; atomized 94; ethical formation of 272–280; and middle spaces 219; modalities of 271, 273, 294; and mosque movement 224, 285; and nepantla 248; religious 250, 458

Agèou 256

Agou Achade 267

Ahmed, Leila 289

Akaev, President 154, 156

Akresh, Ilana R. 412 see also ch...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Series Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Section I: What is Religion?
• Section II: Religion and Social Institutions
• Section III: Religion and Social Power
• Section IV: Religion and Social Movements
• Section V: Religion, Local and Global
• Works Cited
• Credits
• Glossary Index