Shopping for Faith: American Religion in the New Millennium [Paperback]

Richard Cimino (Author), Don Lattin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2002

Shopping for Faith is as good as it gets in assessing the U.S. religion scene at millennium's end. Cimino and Lattin present a picture of multiple trends headed in often contradictory directions.
-- Robert Ellwood, emeritus professor of religion, University of Southern California

American religion flourishes in a consumer culture, and presents us with a bewildering array of choices as we navigate the shopping mall of faith.

The authors identify dozens of trends which will shape American religion in the next century and bring together the latest research and intimate portraits of Americans describing their beliefs, their religious heritage, and their spiritual search.

With warmth and style the authors document how consumerism shapes religious practice -- from conservative evangelical worship to the most esoteric New Age workshop.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Nowadays, United States citizens seek religions in the same way they look for household goods--they go shopping. Speaking to the U.S. consumer-driven culture, the authors demonstrate how the mall mentality affects religious choices throughout the country. For example, consumers like to buy spiritual experiences and ideas instead of buying into doctrine. This is why Buddhism has much more success in the form of books and Zen audio tapes than it does in attracting followers to join an institution. Not surprisingly the baby-boom generation is dominating many U.S. religious trends, especially the evolution of "hybrid religions." For example, disgruntled Catholics may intertwine their childhood roots with the principles of Quakerism, "as seekers separated from their religious heritage search out new expressions of faith."

As for the years ahead? "Two words describe the future of religious denominations--downsized and decentralized." Also, social action and spirituality will probably be more purposefully linked in the new millennium. The authors (one, the editor of Religion Watch newsletter and the other an award-winning religion writer for the San Francisco Chronicle) have assembled what might be the best and certainly the most readable authority on the immediate future of religion in the U.S. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Cimino (editor of Religion Newswatch) and Lattin (religion writer for the San Francisco Chronicle) undertake the uncertain business of predicting the course of religion in America, studying current trends and projecting them into the future. Anyone looking for a good description of the current state of American religion should find this book helpful. The authors examine the rise of Protestant megachurches, growth in the number of female clergy, mixing of Eastern and Western traditions, choices between traditional and contemporary worship forms, and more. The title refers to the impact of consumerism on religion as people shop for religious or spiritual fulfillment. Filled with interesting real-life stories and provocative projections, this book is recommended for all libraries.?John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (March 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787961043
• ISBN-13: 978-0787961046
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring faith has many avenues, January 25, 2000

By 

Jeffrey Jones (Ashton, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shopping for Faith, with CD-ROM: American Religion in the New Millennium (Hardcover)

Terrific book at identifying why our search for faith and spiritual life has taken so many different roads. Influenced by the world events, yet still desiring a faith to guide us and make sense of our spiritual side. This book will help people to explore options and understand why they may have had some different feelings about their spirit along the way. The CD that comes with the book helps keep the explorations fresh.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative analysis of today's American religious scene, January 17, 2001

By 

Tom Hinkle (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shopping for Faith, with CD-ROM: American Religion in the New Millennium (Hardcover)

This book, written in 1998, takes an objective look at the varieties of religious expression in America at the end of the 20th century and projects the observed trends into the new millennium. This is good information for anyone to have, whether one is a "seeker", a casual observer, or a devoted follower of a particular religion. It covers the "mix-and-match" religious experiences that are popular in some areas as well as the tradional religions who are embracing new methodology to impact today's society. The influence of religion in the social and political arenas is also addressed quite extensively. One subject the authors glossed over a little too quickly is the impact of televangelism and the effect it has on religious beliefs and practices. For good or for ill, televangelism has a much greater impact, at least in America's heartland, than the authors indicate. Otherwise, this book is very comprehensive and never ceases to be interesting.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading, January 16, 2008

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shopping for Faith: American Religion in the New Millennium (Paperback)

Change often takes ten years to happen so the authors views seem to be occurring in 2007-2008. In the 80's and into the 90's mega churches were the ones that attracted the middle class folk. Well educated, 'religious' folks have been pretty consistent on not joining any church. And then there is the big group of 'religious' folk who having as an example attended a Catholic school and church still treasures the rituals on occasion but is more akin to Buddhism and Quaker ways of life. Walk the talk living. Also don't overlook how the economy drives peoples beliefs. A recession often brings about simple living beliefs which is attractive to those who are Buddhist, Quaker, small town churches with social justice mode. A book well worth reading.