Spiritual shopping
Individuals feel like they have a choice as consumers of religion and
as ‘spiritual shoppers’.
We develop our own ‘DIY’, personalised beliefs which resonate with
our own interests and aspirations.
(Can choose from the vast selection in the religious marketplace)
As a result, religion no longer acts as the source of collective identity
that it once did.
Lyon (2000) -
Religious disembedded/
diversity deinstitutionalized
Society is no longer unified under
Reasons such as globalisation, the increased
the single sacred canopy provided by one
importance of the media and communications
Church.
and the growth of consumerism have meant
Instead, religious diversity creates a plurality of life
that religion has become:
worlds, where people’s perceptions of the world may vary with
different interpretations of the truth. Diversity undermines religion’s 1. Disembedded
‘plausibility structure’; the reasons why people find it believable. Beliefs - As a result of media, religion has been lifted out of physical churches
Postmodernism and moved to a different time and place.
Bruce (2011) argues the growth of this has largely Technological (3) 2. Deinstitutionalized
replaced religious explanations as to why things worldview Religion has been detached from its
happen.
place in religious institutions.
Removed from their original location in
E.g. when a plane crashes, it is not likely to be
the church, religious ideas become a
regarded as the work of evil spirits or God’s
cultural resource that individuals can
punishment but instead scientific and Re-enchantment Online religion and adopt for their own purposes.
technological explanations. and a spiritual Religion online
Fundamentalism in revolution
This results in little room for a response to
religious explanations in Helland (2000) distinguishes between 2
everyday life.
Postmodernism Lyon argues we are now in a period types of internet activity:
of re-enchantment, with the growth
Postmodernism brings freedom of of unconventional beliefs, practices 1. Online religion
choice, uncertainty and risk aversion. and spirituality. Form of ‘cyber religion’ with potentially no existence
However others are attracted to fundamentalism by outside of the internet. Allows individuals to visit virtual
its claims of certainty and absolute truth. Sociologists argue that a ‘spiritual revolution’ is taking worship, explore shared spiritual interests and provide
Castells (2010) distinguishes between two responses: place today in which traditional beliefs are making mutual support.
Resistance identity - A defensive. fundamentalist way for New Age spiritual beliefs and practices that
reaction of those who feel threatened. emphasise personal development and subjective 2. Religion online
Project identity - The response of those who are experience. Form of top-down communication where a
forward-looking, engaging with social movements religious organisation on the internet
like feminism and environmentalism. addresses members and potential converts.
Individuals feel like they have a choice as consumers of religion and
as ‘spiritual shoppers’.
We develop our own ‘DIY’, personalised beliefs which resonate with
our own interests and aspirations.
(Can choose from the vast selection in the religious marketplace)
As a result, religion no longer acts as the source of collective identity
that it once did.
Lyon (2000) -
Religious disembedded/
diversity deinstitutionalized
Society is no longer unified under
Reasons such as globalisation, the increased
the single sacred canopy provided by one
importance of the media and communications
Church.
and the growth of consumerism have meant
Instead, religious diversity creates a plurality of life
that religion has become:
worlds, where people’s perceptions of the world may vary with
different interpretations of the truth. Diversity undermines religion’s 1. Disembedded
‘plausibility structure’; the reasons why people find it believable. Beliefs - As a result of media, religion has been lifted out of physical churches
Postmodernism and moved to a different time and place.
Bruce (2011) argues the growth of this has largely Technological (3) 2. Deinstitutionalized
replaced religious explanations as to why things worldview Religion has been detached from its
happen.
place in religious institutions.
Removed from their original location in
E.g. when a plane crashes, it is not likely to be
the church, religious ideas become a
regarded as the work of evil spirits or God’s
cultural resource that individuals can
punishment but instead scientific and Re-enchantment Online religion and adopt for their own purposes.
technological explanations. and a spiritual Religion online
Fundamentalism in revolution
This results in little room for a response to
religious explanations in Helland (2000) distinguishes between 2
everyday life.
Postmodernism Lyon argues we are now in a period types of internet activity:
of re-enchantment, with the growth
Postmodernism brings freedom of of unconventional beliefs, practices 1. Online religion
choice, uncertainty and risk aversion. and spirituality. Form of ‘cyber religion’ with potentially no existence
However others are attracted to fundamentalism by outside of the internet. Allows individuals to visit virtual
its claims of certainty and absolute truth. Sociologists argue that a ‘spiritual revolution’ is taking worship, explore shared spiritual interests and provide
Castells (2010) distinguishes between two responses: place today in which traditional beliefs are making mutual support.
Resistance identity - A defensive. fundamentalist way for New Age spiritual beliefs and practices that
reaction of those who feel threatened. emphasise personal development and subjective 2. Religion online
Project identity - The response of those who are experience. Form of top-down communication where a
forward-looking, engaging with social movements religious organisation on the internet
like feminism and environmentalism. addresses members and potential converts.
