Body pedagogics and the religious habitus

A new direction for the sociological study of religion

Bibliographic Data

ID4748973
AuthorsP A Mellor (0000-0001-6954-4442, University of Leeds), Chris Shilling (0000-0003-2930-9223, University of Kent)
Year2010
Volume40
Issue1
Pages27-38
Publication date2010-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0048-721X • E-ISSN: 1096-1151
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/j.religion.2009.07.001
OpenAlexW2010467653
LanguageEN
Citations received43
References cited93

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

Cultural capital · Epistemology · Habitus · Social science · Sociological theory · Sociology · Sociology of religion · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Education and Schools · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices