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Body pedagogics and the religious habitus: A new direction for thesociological study of religion

Mellor, Philip A., Shilling, Chris (2011) Body pedagogics and the religious habitus: A new direction for thesociological study of religion. Religion, 40 (1). pp. 27-38. ISSN 0048-721X. (doi:10.1016/j.religion.2009.07.001) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:40303)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.religion.2009.07.001

Abstract

Sociological theory has been central to the modern study of religion. In the face of the global resurgence of religious phenomena, however, and the challenge this has presented for the assumptions that characterised much twentieth century sociology, there is a need for new theoretical models to make sense of religion today. This paper contributes to this task by building upon Durkheim's suggestion that religious social facts become fully efficacious only when internalised, and Luhmann's interest in sociological manifestations of ‘transcendence’ and ‘immanence’, in order to analyse religion as a thoroughly embodied phenomenon that can be understood through the study of religious body pedagogics. Having outlined the key steps involved in the analysis of body pedagogics, we illustrate the utility of this realist framework through an ideal-typical representation of Christianity and Islam and reflect, via a consideration of several objections that could be directed towards it, upon how this approach can deal with the complexities and contingencies of contemporary religion. In conclusion, it is suggested that this systematic body pedagogic focus on embodied commonalities and differences across diverse religious contexts offers a valuable basis upon which to engage critically with religion today.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.religion.2009.07.001
Additional information: number of additional authors: 1;
Uncontrolled keywords: Body, Sociology, Religion
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Stewart Brownrigg
Date Deposited: 07 Mar 2014 00:05 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/40303 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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