This landmark study in the sociology of religion sheds new light on the question of what has happened to religion and spirituality since the 1960s in modern societies. Exposing several analytical weaknesses of today's sociology of religion, (Un)Believing in Modern Society presents a new theory of religious-secular competition and a new typology of ways of being religious/secular. The authors draw on a specific European society (Switzerland) as their test case, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to show how the theory can be applied. Identifying four ways of being religious/secular in a modern society: 'institutional', 'alternative', 'distanced' and 'secular' they show how and why these forms have emerged as a result of religious-secular competition and describe in what ways all four forms are adapted to the current, individualized society.

About the Author

Joerg Stolz is Professor of Sociology of Religion at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Substantively, he works on the description and explanation of different forms of religiosity, evangelicalism, secularization, and comparison of religious groups across religious traditions.

Judith Koenemann is Professor of Practical Theology in the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Munster, Germany. She works on the description and explanation of various forms of individual religiosity, and religion in the public sphere.

Mallory Schneuwly Purdie holds a PhD in Sociology of Religion and Applied Study of Religion. She is a researcher at the Institute for the Social Sciences of Religions at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Thomas Englberger has worked on the description of religiosity in Switzerland, especially on Roman Catholicism, and on the pluralisation of values and religiosity.

Michael Kruggeler, PhD, is a sociologist of religion who has worked both quantitatively and qualitatively on the secularization and individualization of religion.

Reviews

"If you read just one book on the sociology of religion published in the last ten years, this is the one to choose. It provides both a synthesis of earlier research and a fresh analysis of religious change in modern society. It combines the general reach of quantitative studies with the rich detail of qualitative work. Best of all, it offers convincing explanations." - David Voas, University of Essex, UK

"This is a very important book. The theory of religious-secular competition proposed by the authors is a challenging alternative to former theories of secularization, individualization, and rational choice." - Karel Dobbelaere, University of Leuven, Belgium and Honorary President of the ISSR

"Creatively using both quantitative evidence and in-depth interviews, this book will stand as the authoritative account of religion in Switzerland at the beginning of the twenty-first century. But it is more than that. The authors' conceptual map of the Swiss religious landscape helps us think more clearly about religion elsewhere, and their explanation of recent religious trends in Switzerland rings true for other places as well." - Mark Chaves, Duke University, USA

"I really liked this book. It is well-written, clear, concise, comprehensive, and based on excellent methodology. (...) This book can serve as a model for how to conduct a comprehensive study of (non)religion in many locations around the world." - Ryan T. Cragun, The University of Tampa

"While many sociologists of religion use the ideas of competition and a spiritual marketplace to explain the growth of religion, Stolz and colleagues use "market theory" to explain what they see as the growing secularization of society." - ReligionWatch, December 2016

Book Information
ISBN 9781138548770
Author Joerg Stolz
Format Paperback
Page Count 314
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 589g