Neoliberal Religion: Faith and Power in the Twenty-first Century

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This book explores neoliberalism as an account of contemporary society and considers what this means for our understanding of religion. Neoliberalism is a perspective grounded in free market economics and distinguished by a celebration of competition and consumer choice. It has had a profound influence in societies across the world, and has extended its reach into all areas of human experience. And yet neoliberalism is not just about enterprise and opportunity. It also comes with authoritarian leadership, gross inequality and the manipulation of information. How should we make sense of these changes, and what do they mean for the status of religion in the 21st century Has religion been transformed into a market commodity or consumer product Does the embrace of business methods make religious movements more culturally relevant, or can they be used to reinforce inequalities of gender or ethnicity How might neoliberal contexts demand we think differently about matters of religious identity and power This book provides an accessible discussion about religion in the 21st century. Mathew Guest asks what distinguishes neoliberal religion and explores the sociological and ethical questions that arise from considering its wider significance.

Reviews

This book explores neoliberal culture and its impact on religious identities. The social scientific study of religion must adapt accordingly if we are to comprehend current trends. A series of innovative and sometimes unexpected examples brings the debate to life, not least its ethical implications. This is a book to ponder carefully. * Grace Davie, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Exeter, UK *
Mathew Guest directs our attention to the fact that our era is traversed by market ideologies and imaginaries in the guise of neoliberalism and consumerism, and that this is crucial for understanding religion. Using a cultural approach that considers religion in wider society rather than looking at it in isolation, he perspicaciously analyses the way in which neoliberalism affects religion through discussions on marketization, populism, the rise of post-truth claims, securitization and the entrepreneurial self. It should be widely read. * Franois Gauthier, Full Professor of Religious Studies, University of Friborg, Switzerland *

Author Bio

Mathew Guest is Professor in the Sociology of Religion at Durham University, UK. He is the co-author of Christianity and the University Experience: Understanding Student Faith (2013) and Islam on Campus: Contested identities and the Cultures of Higher Education in Britain (2020). He is the author of Evangelical Identity and Contemporary Culture (2007).