The End(s) of Religion - A History of How the Study of Religion Makes Religion Irrelevant

Eric Bain-Selbo argues that the study of religion-from philosophers to psychologists, and historians of religion to sociologists-has separated out the "ends" or goals of religion and thus created the conditions by which institutional religion is increasingly irrelevant in contemporary Western culture.There is ample evidence that institutional religion is in trouble, and little evidence that it will strengthen in the future, giving some reason to believe that we are in the process of seeing the end of religion. At the same time, various cultural practices have met in the past and continue to meet today certain fundamental human needs-needs that we might identify as religious that now are being fulfilled through what Bain-Selbo calls the "religion of culture." traces the way that the very study of religion has led to institutional religion being viewed as just one human institution that can address our particular "religious" needs rather than the sole institution to do so. In turn, ultimately we can begin to see how other institutions or forms of culture can function to serve these same needs or "ends.">

Product details

• Authors: Eric Bain-Selbo, Bain-Selbo Eric
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.2023
• EAN: 9781350287761
• ISBN: 978-1-350-28776-1
• No. of pages: 288
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, RELIGION / Institutions & Organizations, Religious issues & debates, Religious groups: social & cultural aspects, Religious institutions and organizations, Social groups: religious groups and communities, Religious institutions & organizations, Religious issues and debates, institutional religion; religion and popular culture