A Rumor of Angels: Modern Society and the Rediscovery of the SupernaturalA sociologist’s look at the continuing importance of religion and the supernatural in the modern world, “cleverly expounded [and] enhanced by wit” (Kirkus Reviews). Acclaimed scholar and sociologist Peter L. Berger examines religion in twentieth-century Western society, exploring the social nature of knowledge and its effect on religious belief. Using five signs evident in ordinary life—order, play, hope, damnation, and humor—Berger calls for a rediscovery of the supernatural as a crucial, rich dimension of humanity. Conceived as a response to his influential book The Sacred Canopy, Berger eschews technical jargon and speaks directly and systematically to those, like himself, who wish to explore religious questions. |
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affirmations aggiornamento alleged American anthropological starting point anthropology argument basic become belief Berger biblical C. S. Lewis called Catholic Catholicism challenge Christ Christian Christology church cognitive minority comic conception confrontation contemporary course crisis culture death dimension discovery discrepancy divine ebook ecstasy ecumenical consciousness empirical reason everyday existentialism Feuerbach frame of reference fundamental God’s hope human experience human gestures humanitas individual individual’s inductive faith intellectual intrinsic Jesus Judaism Luckmann manifest Marxist means milieux modern world moral natural neo-orthodox neo-orthodoxy notions one’s option particular Paul Tillich perspective philosophical philosophical anthropology plausibility structure play possible practical projection Protestant Protestantism psychological question redemption relativizing religion religious traditions revelation RUMOR OF ANGELS sectarian secularization sense signals of transcendence simply situation sociologists sociology of knowledge suggest supernatural supernaturalist theodicies theologian theological enterprise theological thought Thomas Luckmann trend truth ultimate vindication Wolfhart Pannenberg words world view