Neoliberal Religion

Mathew Guest explores neo-liberalism as an account of contemporary western society and considers what this means for our understanding of religion.

The rise of free market economics in western culture is associated with the celebration of competition and prioritization of consumer choices as cultural phenomena that profoundly influence human experience in all areas of life. However, several global political changes - including the election of Donald Trump as US president, 'brexit', and the rise of right-wing populism across continental Europe - point to a counter-response. This response emphasizes nativist forms of identity and the affirmation of narrow cultural or ethnic boundaries. Together they reflect a complex and seismic shift in assumptions about the role of the state and the future of social order within developed societies. A crisis in the status of the mass media and the rising prominence of social media add further elements of uncertainty into an already destabilized context.

This book is an accessible, topical discussion of a new set of tools and approaches to understanding contemporary religion and religious movements. In addition, Mathew Guest introduces a number of sociological and ethical questions that arise from considering the status of religion within a neo-liberal age.