Identity and the Sacred
A Sketch for a Social-Scientific Theory of Religion
Contributing Author
Hans Mol [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Edited by
Adam Powell [+–]
Durham University
Adam Powell is Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Theology at Durham University. He is the co-editor of Sacred Selves, Sacred Settings (Ashgate, 2015) and editor of Hans Mol and the Sociology of Religion (Routledge, 2017)
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of Hans Mol (1922-2017), Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’.
This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Table of Contents
Preliminaries
Foreword [+–]
Durham University
Adam Powell is Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Theology at Durham University. He is the co-editor of Sacred Selves, Sacred Settings (Ashgate, 2015) and editor of Hans Mol and the Sociology of Religion (Routledge, 2017)
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Introduction [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Chapter 1
Basic Argument [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Part One: The Dialectic between Differentiation and Identity
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Part Two: The Meaning of Identity
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
8. Morality [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Part Three: The Foci of Identity
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
12. Cults and Sect [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Part Four: The Mechanism of Sacralization
14. Objectification [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
15. Commitment [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
16. Ritual [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
Chapter 18
Conclusion [+–]
McMaster University
Hans Mol (1922-2017) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Canada and an important figure in the sociology of religion during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Identity and the Sacred is the most influential work of the late Hans Mol, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University. In this volume, Mol broke new ground in the sociology of religion by borrowing from ethology, developmental psychology, and even symbolic interactionism to argue that personal identity was central to the religious enterprise. In doing so, he became one of the first (if not the first) sociologists to utilise the concept of identity as a means of discussing the persistence and socio-cultural role of religion in contemporary life. Giving identity pride of place within a new theoretical framework was not only unique but perceptive, as scholarly interest in issues of identity has only increased since the late 70s. Mol’s identity theory dissolved the hard line previously drawn between individual agents and social structures, introduced serious doubt into debates over hard secularisation, and suggested that religion was a dynamic process involving irrational commitment and vigorous defence rather than a static cultural object of reasoned belief. The significance of such a theory for the twenty-first century cannot be overstated – it is largely due to our available hindsight that sociologists and other scholars can now recognise the novelty of Mol’s approach and its usefulness for contemporary topics such as religious extremism/violence, Brexit, the alt-right, and so-called ‘postsecularism’. This new edition of Identity and the Sacred includes a substantive Foreword that argues for the enduring significance of Mol’s ideas but also includes never-before-seen content from the archived Hans Mol Papers of the National Library of Australia. This volume will be of interest to both postgraduates and academics from the fields of Religious Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Theology who are interested in social-scientific theories of religion and identity.
