Steve Bruce se zabývá povahou náboženství v moderním světě a jeho spojením s politikou. Jeho práce zkoumá, jak náboženství funguje v současné společnosti a jak ovlivňuje politické procesy. Bruce analyzuje dynamiku mezi vírou a mocí a přináší hluboký vhled do sociálních a politických rolí náboženství. Jeho autorský styl je analytický a podložený důkladným výzkumem.
Na základě sociologických teorií, které se zabývají společenskými vrstvami, kriminalitou a deviantním chováním obecně, fungováním byrokracie nebo změnami v politických a náboženských organizacích, nechává autor čtenáře nahlédnout do vztahů a vazeb, jež existují mezi jedincem a společností. Z pohledu sociologie - jako regulérní disciplíny z oboru sociálních věd srozumitelně osvětluje roli jedince ve společnosti a zároveň roli společnosti na utváření sociální identity každého člověka. Touto cestou současně demonstruje přínos sociologického pohledu na společenskou realitu pro porozumění a chápání moderního světa.
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. A humorous, enjoyable read, this book provides authoritative, reliable definitions; accessible ‘digests’ of key arguments; contemporary, and appealing illustrations of points.
Steve Bruce explores Scotland's transformation from the devout Presbyterian
country of 1900, to the diverse society of today, with less than 10 per cent
of Scots attending church. He bases his study on historical, ethnographic and
statistical research, to provide both a coherent description of Scotland's
current religious complexion.
Secularization remains one of the most hotly debated topics in the study of
religion in modern societies. Steve Bruce elaborates the sociological
secularization paradigm and defends it against a wide variety of recent
attempts at rebuttal and refutation.
This indispensable reference tool offers a practicing social scientist's guide
to researching social causes, components, and consequences of religion in the
modern world.
The book explores the Ulster Loyalists' perspective on the Northern Ireland Troubles, highlighting their growing alienation. Steve Bruce presents the conflict as an entrenched ethnic struggle, emphasizing that understanding the loyalist identity is essential for any hope of achieving lasting peace. Through this lens, the author offers critical insights into the complexities of loyalty and identity in a region marked by division.
British Gods is a comprehensive survey of the state of religious faith in
contemporary Britain, analysing how the status and nature of the different
religions has changed since the 1950s and 1960s. Considering the challenges
religion faces today from secular and social tensions, it offers a prognosis
for the future of religion in Britain.
Since the start of the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland", working class Protestants have used violence and terror to "defend Ulster from traitorous republicans". Despite being responsible for about half the civilian casualties of the present conflict and despite having subverted major political initiatives, the loyalist paramilitary organizations - The Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Volunteer Force, the Red Hand Commando and others - have been relatively neglected by scholars. This study, based on extensive interviewing of loyalist terrorists, is a comprehensive survey of a group that is central to the Ulster conflict. "The Red Hand" recounts the history of loyalist terorism, analyzes the motives that inform it, examines the political innovations of the terrorists, critically explores claims of security force collusion with loyalist terror, and concludes by arguing that what appear to be unconnected aspects of loyalist paramilitarism can be understood as having common origins in the problems of trying to use terror to defend, rather than to destroy, the state. The primary importance of the book is in filling a large gap in our understanding of the Northern Ireland conflict; its secondary purpose is to extend our understanding of the relationship between terrorism and the modern state.
In this defence of the secularization paradigm, Bruce elaborates just what
Weber, Durkheim, Berger and Wilson thought was happening to religion in the
West, and responds to critics of this concept. Topics covered include new age
spirituality, and the influence of Eastern religions.
Exploring the 450-year struggle between religion and modernization, this book examines the evolution of Western religion from the 16th century to the present-day "New Age" movements. It presents a lively and accessible narrative that details significant transformations in religious thought and practice over the centuries. Additionally, it offers insights into the future trajectory of religion in the modern world, supported by informative tables.
