Rediscovering the sacred

By Robert Wuthnow

Book Description

In a world where many assume spiritual interest ebbs and flows like tides, sociologist Robert Wuthnow presents a compelling alternative perspective. Rather than experiencing periodic revivals and declines, he argues that our connection to the sacred remains remarkably constant, continuously transforming and appearing in unexpected new forms throughout modern society.

This thoughtful exploration challenges conventional wisdom about secularization, revealing how the sacred persists and adapts rather than simply disappearing or returning. Wuthnow examines contemporary theoretical frameworks from leading social scientists, demonstrating how recent scholarship has moved beyond simple linear models of religious decline to embrace more nuanced understandings of spiritual expression.

The book delves into the intricate relationship between religion and culture, exploring how sacred experiences connect to daily life and how religious practices function within broader cultural contexts. Wuthnow pays particular attention to the language and rhetoric of religious discourse, examining how these elements shape public perception and understanding.

Beyond individual spiritual experience, the work addresses larger questions about religion's role in politics, its response to modernizing forces, and its increasingly global character. Through this comprehensive analysis, readers gain valuable frameworks for recognizing and understanding the diverse ways the sacred manifests in contemporary life.

For those seeking to understand how spirituality operates in modern society, this work offers fresh insights into the enduring presence and evolving expressions of the sacred around us.