Böcker av Steve Bruce

Steve Bruce takes aim at sociologists of religion who, in his estimation, have exaggerated the strength of the New Christian Righ. The Rapture of Politics will be of interest to political scientists, theologians, sociologists, and scholars of American culture.

Explores Scotland's transformation from the largely devout Presbyterian country of 1900, with the church as a major social force, to the diverse, more secular society of today, when less than 10 per cent of Scots attend church. This book looks at the decline in the Protestant-Catholic divide.

With over 1000 entries on key concepts and theorists, The SAGE Dictionary of Sociology provides full coverage of the field, clarifying the technical use of apparently common words, explaining the fundamentals concepts, and introducing new and unfamiliar terms.

Is Scotland a sectarian society?Scotland is divided not by religion as much as by arguments about the enduring importance of religious divisions. The 'curse' of Sectarianism is debated in the Parliament, the General Assembly and in the media. What we have not had until now is a serious assessment of the evidence.This book tests the rhetoric with historical and social scientific data, describing and explaining the changing pattern of relations between Catholics and Protestants over the 20th century. It concludes that Catholic integration in Scotland has been far more successful than most commentators would have us believe. While there were once deep social, political, economic and cultural divisions, these have now all but disappeared. In Scotland's increasingly secular society, religious identity has steeply declined in social significance.The book is informed by both a considerable body of evidence from new historical research and major social surveys, and by the authors' understanding of what the mixing of religion and politics looks like elsewhere - in America, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Ulster. Presenting a reasoned argument and up-to-date information, the book aims to contribute to a better-informed view of sectarianism in Scotland. Key Features:*Steve Bruce - the main author - is a well-known figure in this field.*Written in clear, accessible, arresting prose.*The first book to challenge the view that Scotland is a society deeply divided by religion.*A controversial take on a controversial subject - challenged long-held assumptions.