Contemporary theology, argues Miller, is silent on what is unquestionably one of the most important cultural issues it faces: consumerism or 'consumer culture.' While there is no shortage of expressions of concern about the corrosive effects of consumerism from the standpoint of economic justice or environmental ethics, there is a surprising paucity of theoretically sophisticated works on the topic, for consumerism, argues Miller, is not just about behavioral 'excesses'; rather, it is a pervasive worldview that affects our construction as persons-what motivates us, how we relate to others, to culture, and to religion. Consuming Religion surveys almost a century of scholarly literature on consumerism and the commodification of culture and charts the ways in which religious belief and practice have been transformed by the dominant consumer culture of the West. It demonstrates the significance of this seismic cultural shift for theological method, doctrine, belief, community, and theological anthropology. Like more popular texts, the book takes a critical stand against the deleterious effects of consumerism. However, its analytical complexity provides the basis for developing more sophisticated tactics for addressing these problems.
The inherent problem of consumer culture isn't so much that it directly opposes religion but that it 'inclines people to engage religious beliefs as if they were consumer commodities.' So posits Georgetown theology professor Vincent J. Miller in this balanced critique of the impact of consumer culture on Christian faith and practice. Miller finds no use in searching out some golden age of Christendom or trying to create one in its absence. Consumerism is the reality of most of the Western world, and Miller's critical analysis avoids condemning it as vacuous while searching ways Christians can live more authentically within it. Skillfully synthesizing his knowledge of cultural studies and theology, Miller considers the commodification of culture and religion, discusses desire and its relation to the kingdom of God, broaches the politics of consumption, and proposes tactical responses to the problems posed by consumer culture. To quote one reviewer, Consuming Religion is 'creative, demanding, learned and almost inordinately balanced.' Miller finds that balance somewhere between his attention to the vitality of popular culture and the power of cultural traditions to fund cultural agency. A unique and compelling book.
The inherent problem of consumer culture isn't so much that it directly opposes religion but that it 'inclines people to engage religious beliefs as if they were consumer commodities.' So posits Georgetown theology professor Vincent J. Miller in this balanced critique of the impact of consumer culture on Christian faith and practice. Miller finds no use in searching out some golden age of Christendom or trying to create one in its absence. Consumerism is the reality of most of the Western world, and Miller's critical analysis avoids condemning it as vacuous while searching ways Christians can live more authentically within it. Skillfully synthesizing his knowledge of cultural studies and theology, Miller considers the commodification of culture and religion, discusses desire and its relation to the kingdom of God, broaches the politics of consumption, and proposes tactical responses to the problems posed by consumer culture. To quote one reviewer, Consuming Religion is 'creative, demanding, learned and almost inordinately balanced.' Miller finds that balance somewhere between his attention to the vitality of popular culture and the power of cultural traditions to fund cultural agency. A unique and compelling book.
Be the first to write a review
Click on image to enlarge
