Religion

Written by a leading sociologist, this fascinating and important book analyses what religion is, how it works and why it matters, using an approach combining critical theory with personalist social theory. At a time of resurgent fundamentalism as well as a trend towards universalism and spirituality, the author provides a useful working definition of religion as 'a complex of culturally prescribed practices, based on premises about the existence and nature of superhuman powers, whether personal or impersonal, which seek to help practitioners gain access to and communicate or align themselves with these powers, in hopes of realising human goods and avoiding things bad.' (p. 22) His definition purposely avoids terms such as supernatural and transcendent, even if these are perceived as real by practitioners. In this sense, he combines a social scientific account ('etic') with an insider perspective ('emic'), steering a middle course between objectivity and subjective interpretation.

Following this introduction, the five chapters discuss the nature of religion, causal powers produced by religion, the way religion works, why humans are religious and the future of religion. The analysis is combined with practical illustrations and gives readers a rich set of concepts, for instance a list of over 100 religious practices. In looking at causal powers, the author suggests various secondary products such as identity, community, meaning, expression and experience, social control and legitimacy - all this adds up to considerable social influence, also on the dark side. For practical purposes, these causal attributions are applied to the way that we interpret events, for instance in the light of prayer. It is precisely these superhuman attributions that are denied by secularists, and the author points out that there is a complex nexus of causes present. In any event, attribution is a cognitive interpretation open to dispute and subject to bias as well as a placebo effect and variety of 'cognitive lubricants'. The chapter on why humans are religious discusses a broad typology, as well as providing some interesting survey material on what people pray about. For many, religious practices provide a perceived way of addressing human limitations and vulnerability. On this basis, his conclusion that religions will continue to be practised makes a great deal of sense, in spite of secular trends. The book sheds a great deal of light on religion, its workings and influence and as such should be widely read, not simply by scholars.