Beckford, James A. (2010) The return of public religion? A critical assessment of a popular claim. Nordic Journal of Religion and Society, Vol.23 (No.2). pp. 121-136.

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Abstract

This article tries to solve a puzzle concerning the notion of public religion. The aim is to understand why contradictory claims are heard in Britain about the place of religion in the public sphere. On the one hand are claims that religion is resurgent. On the other hand are counterclaims that religion is systematically excluded from public life. The solution proposed by this article begins by recognising that Britain lacks the kind of sharp distinction between the state, political society and civil society that Casanova regards as a condition of modernity. The second part of the solution takes into account the strategies of British governments between 1997 and 2010 for deliberately blurring the boundary between state and civil society by summoning the 'faith sector' to enter into partnership with the state. And the final part of the solution argues that the apparent resurgence of religion in the British public sphere is largely a product of the government's 'interpellation' of the faith sector within a broader attempt to manage religious and ethnic diversity.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology
Journal or Publication Title:	Nordic Journal of Religion and Society
Publisher:	Tapir Akademisk Forlag
ISSN:	0809-7291
Official Date:	2010
Dates:	Date Event 2010 Published
Volume:	Vol.23
Number:	No.2
Number of Pages:	16
Page Range:	pp. 121-136
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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