While a large percentage of Americans claim religious identity, the
number of Americans attending traditional worship services has
significantly declined in recent decades. Where, then, are Americans
finding meaning in their lives, if not in the context of traditional
religion? In this provocative study, the authors argue that the objects
of our attention have become our god and fulfilling our desires has
become our religion. They examine the religious dimensions of six
specific aspects of American culture—body and sex, big business,
entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technology—that
function as “altars” where Americans gather to worship and produce
meaning for their lives.
The Altars Where We Worship shows how
these secular altars provide resources for understanding the self,
others, and the world itself. “For better or worse,” the authors write,
“we are faced with the reality that human experiences before these
altars contain religious characteristics in common with experiences
before more traditional altars.” Readers will come away with a clearer
understanding of what religion is after exploring the thoroughly
religious aspects of popular culture in the United States.
