Neoliberal Religion: Faith and Power in the Twenty-First Century

Roundtable discussion, followed by reception

Author: Professor Mathew Guest (Professor in Sociology of Religion, University of Durham)

Discussants: Dr Daniel Nilsson DeHanas (Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Religion, King’s College London) and Dr Aisha Phoenix (Lecturer in Social Justice, King’s College London)

 

Neoliberal Religion: Faith and Power in the Twenty-First Century (Bloomsbury Academic)

This book explores neoliberalism as an account of contemporary society and considers what this means for our understanding of religion.

Neoliberalism is a perspective grounded in free market economics and distinguished by a celebration of competition and consumer choice. It has had a profound influence in societies across the world, and has extended its reach into all areas of human experience. And yet neoliberalism is not just about enterprise and opportunity. It also comes with authoritarian leadership, gross inequality and the manipulation of information. How should we make sense of these changes, and what do they mean for the status of religion in the 21st century? Has religion been transformed into a market commodity or consumer product? Does the embrace of business methods make religious movements more culturally relevant, or can they be used to reinforce inequalities of gender or ethnicity? How might neoliberal contexts demand we think differently about matters of religious identity and power?

This book provides an accessible discussion about religion in the 21st century. Mathew Guest asks what distinguishes neoliberal religion and explores the sociological and ethical questions that arise from considering its wider significance.

March 29th 2023, 6.00pm to 7.30pm

The Council Room, Strand Building Second Floor, King’s College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS.

This event is free, but booking is essential.