Religion and the State

A Comparative Sociology

Bryan S Turner editor Adam Possamai editor Jack Barbalet editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Anthem Press

Published:15th Dec '11

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Religion and the State cover

Explores key issues in the modern tensions between state and religions by exploring a number of case studies from around the world.

With a clear statement of the theoretical issues in the debates about secularization and post-secularism, ‘Religion and the State: A Comparative Sociology’ considers a number of major case studies – from China, Europe, Singapore and South Asia – in order to understand the rise of public religions in the modern state. By distinguishing between political secularization – the separation of state and religion – and social secularization – the transformation of the everyday practice of religion – this volume offers an integrating framework within which to analyze these different societies.

‘Insightful and wide-ranging […] The present volume is particularly noteworthy for both breadth and depth. It does not only provide data from Europe, the US, the formerly Communist parts of Europe, China, India, Singapore, Israel, Turkey, Australia, and so on. It uses these data to think more deeply about how religions and states interact in the late modern world. […] In short, this volume is rich and worth attention.’ —James V. Spickard, ‘Journal of Contemporary Religion’


‘Insightful and wide-ranging […] The present volume is particularly noteworthy for both breadth and depth. It does not only provide data from Europe, the US, the formerly Communist parts of Europe, China, India, Singapore, Israel, Turkey, Australia, and so on. It uses these data to think more deeply about how religions and states interact in the late modern world. […] In short, this volume is rich and worth attention.’ —James V. Spickard, ‘Journal of Contemporary Religion’


‘Edited by three sociologists and comprised of essays from a distinguished group of social scientists, ‘Religion and the State’ considers the uniquely modern frictions between politics, economics, and traditional faiths. Far from a simplistic exploration of secularisation […] The tensions of religious liberty and religious conviction are familiar, yet the authors of this volume consistently urge us to stop seeing the secular and the religious as distinct realms. […] A giant step toward greater sophistication is found through evidence provided here.’ —Gerardo Marti, ‘LSE Review of Books’ blog


‘This volume offers a mosaic of case studies that challenge classical visions of religion and call for new methodology and concepts that will allow a better grasp of the role of religion(s) in contemporary societies and its interactions with the state. Though most of the authors are sociologists, the problems discussed in this volume address a wider audience, including scholars, specialists and graduates who study religion from the perspectives of law, politics, history and culture.’ —Daniela Kalkandjieva, ‘Politics, Religion & Ideology’


‘[A]n extraordinary voyage into Anglo-European social theory and research.’ —Arthur W. Frank, ‘Canadian Journal of Sociology’

ISBN: 9780857287984

Dimensions: 229mm x 153mm x 34mm

Weight: 454g

296 pages