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Beyond Idols: The Shape of a Secular Society
By Richard K. Fenn
201 pages
- Contributors:
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Place of publication:
- New York
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Subjects:
Synopsis
This book attempts to articulate the nature of a secular society, describe its benefits, and suggests the conditions under which such a society could emerge. To become secular, argues Fenn, is to open oneself and one's society to a wide range of possibilities, some interesting and exciting, some burdensome and dreadful. While some sociologists have argued that a "Civil Religion" is necessary to hold together our newly "religionless" society, Fenn urges that there is nothing to fear--and everything ...
This book attempts to articulate the nature of a secular society, describe its benefits, and suggests the conditions under which such a society could emerge. To become secular, argues Fenn, is to open oneself and one's society to a wide range of possibilities, some interesting and exciting, some burdensome and dreadful. While some sociologists have argued that a "Civil Religion" is necessary to hold together our newly "religionless" society, Fenn urges that there is nothing to fear--and everything to gain--from living in a society that is not bound together by sacred memories and beliefs, or by sacred institutions and practices.
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Table of contents
The first page of every section is available free to non-members – click a section heading to start reading now!
- Beyond Idols *
- Title Page *
- Acknowledgments *
- Contents *
- Beyond Idols *
- Introduction 3
- 1 - Idols, Idolatry, and Unnecessary Suffering 13
- 2 - The Agony of the Possible 45
- 3 - Heroes, Charismatic Figures, and Celebrities as Cultural Idols 62
- 4 - Creativity, Secularity, and the Creation of Space for the Present Generation 89
- 5 - From Civil Religion to Public Religiosity 110
- 6 - Stifling the Sociological Imagination 133
- 7 - Ambiguity, Controversy, and the Limits of Language as the Bearer of the Sacred 143
- 8 - Religionless Christianity 159
- Notes 181
- Bibliography 183
- Beyond Idols *
- Title Page *
- Acknowledgments *
- Contents *
- Beyond Idols *
- Introduction 3
- 1 - Idols, Idolatry, and Unnecessary Suffering 13
- 2 - The Agony of the Possible 45
- 3 - Heroes, Charismatic Figures, and Celebrities as Cultural Idols 62
- 4 - Creativity, Secularity, and the Creation of Space for the Present Generation 89
- 5 - From Civil Religion to Public Religiosity 110
- 6 - Stifling the Sociological Imagination 133
- 7 - Ambiguity, Controversy, and the Limits of Language as the Bearer of the Sacred 143
- 8 - Religionless Christianity 159
- Notes 181
- Bibliography 183
- Index 189