Full Description
"Enjoying religion" seems to be a contradiction because religion is generally perceived as a serious or even suppressive phenomenon. This volume is the first to study the increase of enjoying religion systematically by presenting eleven new case studies, occurring on four continents. The volume concludes that in our late modern secular societies the enjoyment of religion or of its loose elements is growing. In particular when scholars concentrate on "lived religion" of ordinary people, the cheerful experiences appear to prevail. Many people use pleasant (elements of) religion to add meaning to their lives, to find spiritual fulfillment or a way to salvation, and to experience belonging to a larger unity. At the same time, diverse cultural dynamics of late modern society such as popular culture, commercialization, re-enchantment, and feminization influence this trend of enjoying religion. In spite of secularization, playing with religion appears to be attractive.
Contents
Introduction: Investigations in Enjoying Religion
Frans Jespers
Part I Enjoying Established Religions
1. Enjoying Islam: Trajectories of Star Performers in the Egyptian Piety Movement
Karin van Nieuwkerk
2. Fun and Faith in the Ganges: The Bodily and Spiritual Pleasures of River Bathing
Catrien Notermans
3. Fun-damentalism: "As If" Experiences at a Creationist Theme Park
James S. Bielo
4. Tantra: Ecstatic Enjoyment Way beyond Boundaries
Paul van der Velde
Part II Enjoying Transformed Religion
5. Merry Christmas! Religion in Norway
Ingvild Sælid Gilhus and Lisbeth Mikaelsson
6. "Our Play Pleases the Man, the Spirits of the Desert, and Whatever": Enjoying Religion at Burning Man
François Gauthier
7. Happinez, Zen, and Wealth
Frans Jespers
8. Celebrating With the Church of the SubGenius: X-Day Rituals of Bad Taste, Burning "Bob," and the End of the World (Not)
Carole M. Cusack
9. Beyond Morality. On Religion in Aesthetic Form
Jean-Pierre Wils
