Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion

Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion
Author: Titus Hjelm
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2018-08-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1350061891

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.

The Sacred Canopy

The Sacred Canopy
Author: Peter L. Berger
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2011-04-26
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1453215379

DIVInfluential scholar Peter L. Berger explores the sociological underpinnings of religion and the rise of a modern secular society/divDIV /divDIVAcclaimed scholar and sociologist Peter L. Berger carefully lays out an understanding of religion as a historical, societal mechanism in this classic work of social theory. Berger examines the roots of religious belief and its gradual dissolution in modern times, applying a general theoretical perspective to specific examples from religions throughout the ages./divDIV /divDIVBuilding upon the author’s previous work, The Social Construction of Reality, with Thomas Luckmann, this book makes Berger’s case that human societies build a “sacred canopy” to protect, stabilize, and give meaning to their worldview./div

The Many Altars of Modernity

The Many Altars of Modernity
Author: Peter L. Berger
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2014-09-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1614519676

This book is the summation of many decades of work by Peter L. Berger, an internationally renowned sociologist of religion. Secularization theory—which saw modernity as leading to a decline of religion—has been empirically falsified. It should be replaced by a nuanced theory of pluralism. In this new book, Berger outlines the possible foundations for such a theory, addressing a wide range of issues spanning individual faith, interreligious societies, and the political order. He proposes a conversation around a new paradigm for religion and pluralism in an age of multiple modernities. The book also includes responses from three eminent scholars of religion: Nancy Ammerman, Detlef Pollack, and Fenggang Yang.

The New Sociology of Knowledge

The New Sociology of Knowledge
Author: Michaela Pfadenhauer
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
Total Pages: 175
Release: 2013-09-06
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1412850959

A classical sociologist can be defined as someone whose "works occupied a central position among the sociological ideas and notions of an era." Following this criterion, Michaela Pfadenhauer demonstrates the relevance of Peter L. Berger’s work to the sociology of knowledge. Pfadenhauer shows that Berger is not only a sociologist of religion, but one whose works are characterized by a sociology-of-knowledge perspective. Berger stands out among his fellow social scientists both quantitatively and qualitatively. He has written numerous books, which have been translated into many languages, and a multitude of essays in scholarly journals and popular magazines. For decades, he has played a role in shaping both public debate and social scientific discourse in America and far beyond. As a sociologist of knowledge, Berger has played three roles: he has been a theoretician of modern life, an analyst of modern religiosity, and an empiricist of global economic culture. In all areas, the focus on processes rather than status quo is characteristic of Berger’s thinking. This book provides an in-depth view on the critical thinking of one of the most important sociologists that present times has to offer. It includes four written essays by Berger.

Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion

Peter L. Berger and the Sociology of Religion
Author: Titus Hjelm
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2018-08-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1350061905

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.

Peter Berger and the Study of Religion

Peter Berger and the Study of Religion
Author: Paul Heelas
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 217
Release: 2013-07-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1134608691

Peter Berger is the most influential contemporary sociologist of religion. This collection of essays is the first in-depth study of his contribution to the field, providing a comprehensive introduction to his work and to current thought in the study of religion. Themes addressed include: * Berger on religion and theology * Religion, spirituality and the discontents of modernity * Secularization and de-secularization A postscript by Peter Berger, responding to the essays, completes this overview of this major figure's work.

The Social Construction of Reality

The Social Construction of Reality
Author: Peter L. Berger
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2011-04-26
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1453215468

A watershed event in the field of sociology, this text introduced “a major breakthrough in the sociology of knowledge and sociological theory generally” (George Simpson, American Sociological Review). In this seminal book, Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann examine how knowledge forms and how it is preserved and altered within a society. Unlike earlier theorists and philosophers, Berger and Luckmann go beyond intellectual history and focus on commonsense, everyday knowledge—the proverbs, morals, values, and beliefs shared among ordinary people. When first published in 1966, this systematic, theoretical treatise introduced the term social construction,effectively creating a new thought and transforming Western philosophy.

The Heretical Imperative

The Heretical Imperative
Author: Peter L. Berger
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Total Pages: 236
Release: 1980
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

After ten years of writing in other areas, Peter L. Berger returns to the problem of religion and modernity discussed in his earlier book A rumor of angels. In The heretical imperative, however, not only is the argument developed further in terms of the challenge to religion of modern secularism, but it is also argued that a new and greatly promising encounter is about to take place between the Judaeo-Christian tradition and the great religions of Asia. Berger discusses the options for religious thought in the contemporary world and suggests that out of the confrontation between different traditions may come a powerful revitalization of religious faith.