Overview

It is often claimed that we live in a secular age. But we do not live in a desacralized one. Sacred forms--whether in 'religious' or 'secular' guise--continue to shape social life in the modern world, giving rise to powerful emotions, polarized group identities, and even the very concept of moral society. Analyzing contemporary sacred forms is essential if we are to be able to make sense of the societies we live in and think critically about the effects of the sacred on our lives for good or ill. The Sacred in the Modern World is a major contribution to this task. Re-interpreting Durkheim's theory of the sacred, and drawing on the 'strong program' in cultural sociology, Gordon Lynch sets out a theory of the sacred that can be used by researchers across a range of humanities and social science disciplines. Using vividly drawn contemporary case material - including the abuse and neglect of children in Irish residential schools and the controversy over the BBC's decision not to air an appeal for aid for Gaza--the book demonstrates the value of this theoretical approach for social and cultural analysis. The key role of public media for the circulation and contestation of the sacred comes under close scrutiny. Adopting a critical stance towards sacred forms, Lynch reflects upon the ways in which sacred commitments can both serve as a moral resource for social life and legitimate horrifying acts of collective evil. He concludes by reflecting on how we might live thoughtfully and responsibility under the light and shadow that the sacred casts, asking whether society without the sacred is possible or desirable.

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9780198705215

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Reviews

A lucid reconsideration of the concept of the sacred , a term that has a rich vernacular life as well as a well-honed technical usage. Bernice Martin, Times Literary Supplement This lucidly written study of The Sacred in the Modern World deserves the widest possible audience. In one of the most impressive restatements of Durkheims theory of sacred forms, Gordon Lynch helps us to make sense of contemporary social life. Whether you are intrigued by the power of public media, disturbed by the moral certainties that justify extreme acts of violence, or interested in the rhetoric of humanitarian appeals, you will profit from reading this book. Lynchs voice is without peer in this area and cannot afford to be ignored. Christopher Partridge, Lancaster University Offering a clear, authoritative and thought-provoking account of the entanglement of secular and sacred phenomena today, The Sacred in the Modern World will be of great interest to a range of readers, and essential reading for those seeking to make sense of the normative claims to authority evident within many contemporary inter-group disputes about rights, identities and wellbeing. Illuminating how such claims often depend upon patterns of implicit sacralisation, Lynch's innovative and valuable analysis reorients the sociological imagination beyond 'religion' to focus on the mechanisms through which social life continues to be shaped by evolving constructions and enactments of the sacred. Philip A. Mellor, University of Leeds

Offering a clear, authoritative and thought-provoking account of the entanglement of secular and sacred phenomena today, The Sacred in the Modern World will be of great interest to a range of readers, and essential reading for those seeking to make sense of the normative claims to authority evident within many contemporary inter-group disputes about rights, identities and wellbeing. Illuminating how such claims often depend upon patterns of implicit sacralisation, Lynch's innovative and valuable analysis reorients the sociological imagination beyond 'religion' to focus on the mechanisms through which social life continues to be shaped by evolving constructions and enactments of the sacred. * Philip A. Mellor, University of Leeds * This lucidly written study of The Sacred in the Modern World deserves the widest possible audience. In one of the most impressive restatements of Durkheims theory of sacred forms, Gordon Lynch helps us to make sense of contemporary social life. Whether you are intrigued by the power of public media, disturbed by the moral certainties that justify extreme acts of violence, or interested in the rhetoric of humanitarian appeals, you will profit from reading this book. Lynchs voice is without peer in this area and cannot afford to be ignored. * Christopher Partridge, Lancaster University * A lucid reconsideration of the concept of the sacred , a term that has a rich vernacular life as well as a well-honed technical usage. * Bernice Martin, Times Literary Supplement *

Author Information

Gordon Lynch is Michael Ramsey Professor of Modern Theology at the University of Kent.

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