Sociology of Religion for Generations X and Y

This textbook on the sociology of religion makes specific relevance to the generation X and Y from the very first page. Students from this generation are involved in consumer culture, get part of their knowledge through popular culture and/or the Internet, and are more practical than theoretical. The academic world is in great need for such a book that focuses on the need of these generations, and this is done with this book which is at the intersection of popular and consumer culture. Each chapter of this book has as an introduction a case study from popular culture or the Internet to draw the reader into the topic of the chapter.This narrative approach is a key approach to bringing the student to the heart of the problem and to explore relevant sociological concepts such as secularisation and the multiple modernisation thesis, re-enchantment, and the McDonaldisation of society; while addressing contemporary phenomenon within, for example, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, New Age, and Witchcraft groups. This book also details the cases of a few current sociologists of religion who are active outside universities (e.g. experts in courts, policy makers, advisers to governments) to highlight the practical relevance of this sub-discipline to students.