Religious cultures - communities of belief

More about the book

Set against the backdrop of the late 20th-century resurgence of religious forces in both East and West, these collected essays examine the role of religion in the transatlantic world. While it's commonly believed that Western societies are undergoing a thorough process of secularization, this view is challenged by the enduring vitality of religion in the United States. This creates a transatlantic divide, with Europe appearing as the only truly secular continent. However, the decline of traditional church authority does not necessarily indicate the rise of a secular Euro culture. Instead, recent arguments suggest that a transformation of religious expression is occurring in Europe, where people are not less religious than others globally, but differently so. Written by esteemed scholars, the essays explore various religious forms and belief communities from a transatlantic perspective. They adopt an interdisciplinary approach, presenting diverse angles on this complex topic. While these discussions may not cover every aspect, they provide a fresh insight into the relationship between spiritual and religious forces and public affairs in a modernized transatlantic West.