Religion and the making of society
Book Description
Charles Davis invites readers into a profound exploration of how religion shapes and is shaped by the societies we create. Drawing from his expertise as a leading theologian, Davis examines the complex relationship between spiritual belief and social formation in our modern world.
This thoughtful analysis begins with a fundamental premise: society emerges from human action and intention. From this foundation, Davis navigates the intricate questions surrounding modernity's meaning and religion's evolving role within contemporary culture. He weaves together insights from modern philosophy and social theory, paying particular attention to how religious language functions and how spiritual practice carries meaning through narrative and community action.
The book engages with significant thinkers like Alasdair MacIntyre and Jürgen Habermas, exploring whether our modern project remains unfinished or represents a flawed approach to universal understanding. Davis examines how individual and collective identity forms, particularly focusing on the development of the modern self and its relationship to spiritual tradition.
Moving beyond theoretical discussion, Davis offers practical critiques of contemporary ideologies, including an examination of attempts to idealize democratic capitalism. He presents an innovative approach to grounding religious hope within rational communication, demonstrating how theology can emerge from social and political engagement.
Perhaps most intriguingly, Davis reveals how postmodern rejection of secular thinking paradoxically opens pathways back toward supernatural understanding, offering readers fresh perspectives on spirituality's place in contemporary life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
📄 Length: 208 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Aspect religieux
- ✓ Explore Religion and politics
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Ideology
- ✓ Explore Maatschappij
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Idéologie
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Ideology
