From Quest for Truth to Being Oneself: Religious Change in Life Stories / Edition 1

by Inger Furseth

Overview

There is a growing interest in ordinary people's life stories. This book provides a detailed analysis of eight Norwegian women and men and their stories about their lives. It focuses on their construction of images of self, society, religion and morality. In spite of a majority Lutheran church, Norwegians are demonstrating new ways of accepting and celebrating religious variety. There is a strong emphasis on self in contemporary culture and an increasing tendency to shift from objective to subjective ordering of experiences. Whereas the older generation speaks about religious traditions as a duty and a quest for truth, the younger generation views religion to be something that corresponds to their true self. Gender also structures religion in contemporary Norway. Women are more religious than men, and women and men speak about religion in different ways. While women focus on religion as a source of meaning in their lives, men tend to describe religion as a moral factor. This book is based on a combination of survey data and life stories. It offers an analysis of the complexity of religion and culture, and the changing face of religion in contemporary Norway.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783631553411
Publisher:	Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Publication date:	07/13/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	326
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

The Author: Inger Furseth is Professor/Research Associate a KIFO Centre for Church Research in Oslo and at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California. Her research centers on religious diversity, gender issues, social and religious movements and social theory.

Table of Contents

Contents: Life stories – Religion – Culture – Gender – Generation.