Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion: 50 Years after The Sacred Canopy

Description

How and why did The Sacred Canopy by Peter L. Berger (1929-2017) become a classic? How have scholars used Berger's ideas over the past 50 years since its publication? How are these ideas relevant to the future of the sociology of religion? Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion explores these questions by providing a broad overview of Berger's work, as well as more focussed studies. The chapters discuss both aspects of Berger's classic text: the 'systematic' sociological theorising on religion and the 'historical' theorising on secularisation. The articles also critically examine Berger's reversal regarding secularisation and the suggested 'desecularisation' of the world. The approaches range from disciplinary history to applications of Berger's ideas. The book includes contributions from Nancy Ammerman, Steve Bruce, David Feltmate, Effie Fokas, Titus Hjelm, D. Paul Johnson, Hubert Knoblauch, Silke Steets, Riyaz Timol, and Bryan S. Turner.

Titus Hjelm is Reader in Sociology at University College London, UK. His publications include Is God Back? (Bloomsbury Academic, 2015), and Social Constructionisms (2014). He is founding chair of the American Academy of Religion's Sociology of Religion Group.

I've personally been eager for someone to put together a volume of this kind. There's no question that The Sacred Canopy is a classic that is still influential and deserves this kind of critical appraisal. * Robert Wuthnow, Director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Princeton University, USA * This book could prove to be the foundation for the social constructivist theoretical approach in the sociology of religion. In the sense of constructive criticism, this volume is the best thing that can happen to a life's work. * Michaela Pfadenhauer, Professor of Sociology, University of Vienna, Austria * A thought-provoking conversation about the significance and implications of Peter Berger's work. Each of the contributors brings a lifetime of reflection on the sociological study of religion. Together, they show the complexity of Berger's thought and its continued relevance to sociology today. This is not mere hagiography. The chapters reveal aspects of Berger's thought that other writers have missed. * James Spickard, Professor of Sociology, University of Redlands, USA * Peter Berger's work has been pivotal for both sociology and the sociology of religion. It still is. The essays brought together in this volume speak to the continuing significance of The Sacred Canopy for an interesting mix of scholars: some senior and some less so; some fascinated by theory and some by its applications in the field. I recommend it warmly. * Grace Davie, Professor emeritus of Sociology, University of Exeter, UK *