One of the most consequential sociological insights of the twentieth century concerns the loosening of social bonds and the gradual disappearance of collective forms of social life. Against this backdrop, most social scientists have shifted their attention to the individual, who has become not only the main object of empirical research but also the focal point of theoretical reflections on contemporary society.
In the study of religion, these trends are reflected, for example, in the flourishing sociology of spirituality and in approaches such as rational choice theory. By contrast, this lecture aims to engage empirically and theoretically with forms of religion that are expressed not in an individual “I” mode but in a plural “we” mode.
The analysis draws on a case study of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with particular attention to their use of media and their ritual practices. Conceptually, the talk is grounded in the framework of collective intentionality and addresses a set of related methodological issues on the basis of fieldwork conducted in Switzerland and Germany.
Andrea Rota is a Professor of the Study of Religion at the University of Oslo who specializes on contemporary forms of religiosity in the Western world, including their engagement with new media technologies.