Believing in Belonging: an exploration of religious belief and identity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Global Studies
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Abby Day (author)
(1900)
Everyday ghosts : the mundanity of supernatural experience
Abby Day (author)
(1900)
Fuzzy Christianity - the unexcluded middle
Day A
(2010)
Researching Belief without Asking Religious Questions
in Fieldwork in Religion
| Description | The research draws on empirical research exploring mainstream religious belief and identity in Euro-American countries. Starting from a qualitative study based in northern England, and then broadening the data to include Europe and North America, I argue that many people 'believe in belonging', choosing religious identifications to complement other social and emotional experiences of 'belongings'. This contrasts with established disciplinary theory in both the European and North American schools of the sociology of religion that assert that most people are 'unchurched' while privately maintaining beliefs in God and other 'spiritual' phenomena. Those approaches are sustained by certain assumptions about belief that remain strikingly unexplored. I introduce the concept of 'performative Christianity' to explain how otherwise non-religious people can bring into being a Christian identity related to social belongings. Further, I argue that what is often dismissed as 'nominalism' is far from an empty category, but one loaded with cultural 'stuff' and meaning. |
| Exploitation Route | In academe it has influenced students and researchers. In government in helped inform the 2011 Census questions. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Through research and teaching. Through informing the UK Office for National Statistics about the wider categories of 'nominal' Christians. As a result I was appointed to the Academic Advisory Board on Census 2011 questions relating to Ethnicity, Language, Identity and Religion |
| First Year Of Impact | 2007 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Belief and identity in late modernity : transcending disciplinary boundaries : introduction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | |
| Results and Impact | Inter-disciplinary workshop to explore contemporary meanings of belief and identity. Organised both as Postdoc event and as annual Study Day for Sociology of Religion Study Group, British Sociological Association. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | |
| URL | http://www.socrel.org.uk/conferences/SussexStudyDay2008/index.html |
| Description | Believing in belonging in contemporary Britain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Religious Studies National Teachers' Conference, |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| URL | http://www.philipallan.com/pdfs/teanatrel.pdf |
| Description | Four-year study reveals views on religion |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This article discusses Dr Day's research and is reproduced with the permission of the Craven Herald. Craven herald |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| URL | http://www.cravenherald.co.uk |