"That They All May Be One": Can Denominationalism Die?
This article examines the premise that denominationalism in America must continue because a "critical number" of denominations must exist in order to meet the diverse spiritual, emotional, psychological, and social needs of a pluralistic society. The premise is examined from a religious ec...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
1999
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| In: |
Research in the social scientific study of religion
Year: 1999, Volume: 6, Pages: 35-51 |
| Further subjects: | B
History of religion studies
B Social sciences B Religionswissenschaften B Religion & Gesellschaft |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article examines the premise that denominationalism in America must continue because a "critical number" of denominations must exist in order to meet the diverse spiritual, emotional, psychological, and social needs of a pluralistic society. The premise is examined from a religious economies perspective, with the primary focus on the occurrences and explanations of denominational schisms and mergers. It is argued that an excessive number of mergers leads to too little diversity in the religious "products" being offered, while too many schisms results in religious organizations duplicating services. Thus, as long as religious freedom exists in America, the diversity of religious products will also persist. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Research in the social scientific study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/9789004493285_004 |