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Recent developments have made many social scientists and commentators wonder whether the United States is still a relatively modern, secular, and democratic society. Instead, America shows signs of the cultural despair that preceded the rise of fascism in Nazi Germany.Taking a careful look at such critical moments as the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Depression, the assassination of President Lincoln, and the eves both of the Civil War and of the American Revolution, this book shows that Americans have long shown authoritarian and even fascist tendencies: signs of despair that the nation is running out of time. In these critical moments, it finds evidence of a regressive cycle consisting of crisis, followed by the sanctification of central authority, and further crisis.With its deep roots in Anglo-American culture, the current crisis awaits decisive resolution.

Key Thinkers in the Sociology of Religion takes a focused look at the foremost figures in the development of the field. From the groundbreaking work of Max Weber, right up to that of contemporary writers such as Peter Berger and Niklas Luhmann, this volume is an essential companion for the student of sociology of religion. Charting the development of theory in this area, each chapter looks at the life and work of an individual theorist, building to a picture of the field as it is today. Richard Fenn's book provides a route to a rounded understanding of the field, through the thought that defin

Acting ritually: evidence from the social life of Chinese rites / Catherine Bell -- Moralizing sermons, then and now / Thomas Luckmann -- Health, morality and sacrifice: the sociology of disasters / Douglas J. Davies -- Contemporary social theory as it applies to the understanding of religion in cross-cultural perspective / Peter Beyer -- The return of theology: sociology's distant relative / Kieran Flanagan -- Epilogue: toward a secular view of the individual / Richard K. Fenn.

In a response to Kung (1999), after arguing that Christianity has had a significant secularizing influence on Western societies, it is asserted that the establishment of a global ethic based partially on Christian tradition is problematic. Although Christian doctrine undeniably provides a rational account for living a responsible life, it is contended that the strong sense of nationalism in Christian nations prevents the realistic implementation of a global ethic project. Contrary to Kung's position, it is maintained that the involvement of corporate & individual actors in the global ethic project is necessary & desirable. Moreover, in the global ethic project, religion functions as a mechanism that authorizes certain identities in the resultant global economy. Consequently, a successful global ethic project must consider ethnic nationalism & secularize societies to the fullest extent; Canada is offered as an example of such a secularized society. 9 References. J. W. Parker