Description
What makes religion so powerful? Why does it attract so many followers? Raise so much money? Influence how people vote? The usual answer is that religion is powerful because it offers divine hope. But there is more to it than that. Why does a worship service seem powerful? Why is it powerful to hear someone testify about their faith? Who sets the rules for who can be a member and who cannot? What does religion do to reinforce gender and racial differences? Or to challenge them? Religion's Power takes a fresh look at these questions by examining what happens during religious rituals to signal the leader's power, the power of the deity being worshipped, and, inadvertently, why some people in the congregation are deemed more powerful than others. Robert Wuthnow explores how religious narratives are constructed to demonstrate sincerity, how religious organizations control time by controlling space, how codified knowledge gives religious organizations power, and the small ways in which religion shapes identities and politics. Building on classical work in the sociology of religion and drawing extensively on historical and ethnographic studies, Religion's Power foregrounds cases ranging from nineteenth-century church organ and lightning rod controversies to current clashes about border walls and racial justice. This is a book for beginning students of religion as well as for advanced scholars and for practitioners, fellow travelers, and critics who want to understand better what makes religion powerful.
About the Author
Robert Wuthnow is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the American Philosophical Society, a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, former president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and the recipient of numerous awards for his scholarly work.
Reviews
With shrewd analysis, striking examples, and clear prose, Robert Wuthnow's timely book draws on his vast knowledge to tackle the question of how religion exercises its power. A definitive and essential volume for every religion scholar's theoretical toolkit. * Peter J. Thuesen, author of Tornado God: American Religion and Violent Weather *
This is a deep-thinking book about sacred power in our modern world. Robert Wuthnow takes us on a captivating journey through the often-invisible manifestations of religion's 'extraordinary power': from power in ritual practice to power in discursive expressions; from power in religious institutions to identity power and political power. Along the way we encounter vivid historical and contemporary examples and meet the key thinkers whose views inform our most urgent discussions today. We emerge with new insights as well as new resolutions about how to best engage with religions power in practice. * Anna Sun, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology, Duke University *
Robert Wuthnow is the living scholar best able to show us the big picture of religion in American society. In Religions Power he does it again! Wuthnow shows us that sacralized power is relevant for religions continuing place in society and how we might understand in a nuanced way both the positive and negative of that influence. This is a book that should be read widely by scholars of religion, journalists, and really anyone who cares about the future of religion. * Elaine Howard Ecklund, Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, Rice University *
One might think of a religion in terms of beliefs, ethical values, and personal practices, and those certainly are central elements...Wuthnow discusses empirical research and points to key figures, theories, and ideas on the subject-it is also accessible. The author writes in a somewhat conversational style, without academic jargon, and he illustrates his ideas with interesting stories and historical examples. Highly recommended. Lower division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *
The strength of Religion's Power resides in Wuthnow's extensive knowledge of the ways that religions promote hierarchy...Religion's Power prompts religious leaders and participants to begin exploring how they need to come together with bonds of mutual belonging and wholeness. * Reading Religion *
Wuthnow's careful and insightful analysis can carry an emancipatory function by illuminating the many ways in which forms of power flow through religious practices and are generated by them. Clergy, scholars of religion, and educated lay people involved in religious communities will benefit from reading this important and helpful book. * Critical Theology *
Wuthnow's concepts of ritual, discursive, institutional, identity, and political power each in its own right point in interesting and important directions that may lead to greater understanding of the social significance of religion's power. Wuthnow's perceptive analysis will leave readers eager to further understand and explore religion's power. * Bridget Ritz, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780197652534
Author Robert Wuthnow
Format Hardback
Page Count 248
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 490g
Dimensions(mm) 237mm * 164mm * 24mm
About the Author
Robert Wuthnow is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the American Philosophical Society, a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, former president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and the recipient of numerous awards for his scholarly work.
Reviews
With shrewd analysis, striking examples, and clear prose, Robert Wuthnow's timely book draws on his vast knowledge to tackle the question of how religion exercises its power. A definitive and essential volume for every religion scholar's theoretical toolkit. * Peter J. Thuesen, author of Tornado God: American Religion and Violent Weather *
This is a deep-thinking book about sacred power in our modern world. Robert Wuthnow takes us on a captivating journey through the often-invisible manifestations of religion's 'extraordinary power': from power in ritual practice to power in discursive expressions; from power in religious institutions to identity power and political power. Along the way we encounter vivid historical and contemporary examples and meet the key thinkers whose views inform our most urgent discussions today. We emerge with new insights as well as new resolutions about how to best engage with religions power in practice. * Anna Sun, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology, Duke University *
Robert Wuthnow is the living scholar best able to show us the big picture of religion in American society. In Religions Power he does it again! Wuthnow shows us that sacralized power is relevant for religions continuing place in society and how we might understand in a nuanced way both the positive and negative of that influence. This is a book that should be read widely by scholars of religion, journalists, and really anyone who cares about the future of religion. * Elaine Howard Ecklund, Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, Rice University *
One might think of a religion in terms of beliefs, ethical values, and personal practices, and those certainly are central elements...Wuthnow discusses empirical research and points to key figures, theories, and ideas on the subject-it is also accessible. The author writes in a somewhat conversational style, without academic jargon, and he illustrates his ideas with interesting stories and historical examples. Highly recommended. Lower division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *
The strength of Religion's Power resides in Wuthnow's extensive knowledge of the ways that religions promote hierarchy...Religion's Power prompts religious leaders and participants to begin exploring how they need to come together with bonds of mutual belonging and wholeness. * Reading Religion *
Wuthnow's careful and insightful analysis can carry an emancipatory function by illuminating the many ways in which forms of power flow through religious practices and are generated by them. Clergy, scholars of religion, and educated lay people involved in religious communities will benefit from reading this important and helpful book. * Critical Theology *
Wuthnow's concepts of ritual, discursive, institutional, identity, and political power each in its own right point in interesting and important directions that may lead to greater understanding of the social significance of religion's power. Wuthnow's perceptive analysis will leave readers eager to further understand and explore religion's power. * Bridget Ritz, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780197652534
Author Robert Wuthnow
Format Hardback
Page Count 248
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 490g
Dimensions(mm) 237mm * 164mm * 24mm
