Family, Religion, and Social Change in Diverse Societies

by Houseknecht, Sharon K.; Pankhurst, Jerry G.

• ISBN13: 9780195131185
• ISBN10: 0195131185
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-08-19
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Family and religion face a myriad of challenges in the modern age. Although many social theorists think these institutions would be greatly weakened or eliminated in the course of modernization, this book rejects that notion and demonstrates that both family and religion--no matter what significant transformations they may be undergoing--are nevertheless well rooted in societies throughout the world. The persistence and vitality of these two institutions contradict the secularization thesis or the family decline thesis. Though the importance of religion and family is manifested in different ways and in different contexts, these institutions are important virtually everywhere, in both the public and private spheres. Family, Religion, and Social Change in Diverse Societies deals with family and religion together, examining their unique relationship as institutions as well as the way in which they interact with other social institutions, including politics and economics. Authored by an international group of scholars in sociology and anthropology, the fourteen essays are complex analyses of social change processes occurring within societies. Taking an inter-institutional perspective, each essay explores the special link between religion and family in a specific society. Together, the introduction and essays in the book cover societies on five continents, examining varying levels of economic development, diverse religious traditions, and differing degrees of cultural homogeneity. Providing informative and compelling studies, Family, Religion, and Social Change in Diverse Societies offers a good mix of both descriptive and statistical information.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Implications of the Religion -- Family Linkage for Social Change

Societal Conflict and Accommodation

Religion and Family in Modern American Culture

Social Change in Egypt: The Roles of Religion and Family

Family and Religion in Sweden

Religion and Family Formation in Taiwan: The Decline of Ancestral Authority

Dramatic Societal Transformation

Belarus on the Cusp of Change

The Relationship Between Religion and Family in a Newly Open Religious Market "We Don't Celebrate Christmas, We Just Give Gifts"

Adaptations to Migration and Social Change Among Muslim, and Sikh Children in England

Economic Factors as a Force for Change

Land of the Rising Son? Domestic Organization, Ancestor Worship, and Economic Change in Japan

A Woman's Pillow and the Political Economy of Kedjom Family in Cameron

Gender and Social Change

Women, Family and Catholicism in Brazil: The Issue of Power

Converted Women Redefining Their Family Roles in Mexico

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