The Invisible Religion: The Problem of Religion in Modern Society.

The Invisible Religion has been a highly influential text, and also the concept that its title embodies. The theoretical context of the work provides its point of departure. It forms part of Luckmann's concerted effort to understand the locus of the individual in the modern world. Sociological approaches to religion, deriving from the sociological classics, form a central theme within this quest. Luckmann's essay aims to reestablish this connection, insisting that the problem of individual existence in society is essentially a "religious" one. It is, precisely, the lack of theoretical reflection within the flourishing subdiscipline of the sociology of religion in the postwar period that concerns Luckmann. The association of religion with church has oriented a whole generation of scholars toward a relatively narrow field, the more so in that church-orientated religion has become a marginal phenomenon in modern societies. To redress this balance, Luckmann opts firmly for a functional definition of religion but differentiates this from the structural-functionalism prevalent in contemporary sociology. Luckmann regards as problematic what is taken for granted in sociological functionalism. His perspective is, essentially, an anthropological one. Thomas Luckmann w swej ksiazce Niewidzialna religia kwestionuje pewne uproszczenia zawarte w koncepcji globalnej sekularyzacji W koncepcji Luckmanna religia pelni kluczowa funkcje stabilizacyjna i organizacyjna Jest niezbywalnym elementem zycia spolecznego i podlega procesom modyfikacji dostosowania usuniecie tego elementu zdaniem Thomasa Luckmanna oznacza destrukcje spolecznosci Najwazniejszym teoretycznym osiagnieciem ksiazki jest teza o prywatyzacji religii w mysl ktorej religia nie znika z zycia spolecznego ale staje sie jako wartosc przede wszystkim prywatna niewidzialna Foreword Introduction I. RELIGION, CHURCH AND SOCIOLOGY II. CHURCH-ORIENTED RELIGION ON THE PERIPHERY OF MODERN SOCIETY III. THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL CONDITION OF RELIGION IV. THE SOCIAL FORMS OF RELIGION V. INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOSITY VI. RELIGION AND PERSONAL IDENTITY IN MODERN SOCIETY VII. MODERN RELIGIOUS THEMES Postscript Notes Index