RT Article
T1 Lines that matter, lines that don't: Religion, boundaries, and the meaning of difference
JF Critical research on religion
VO 1
IS 2
SP 195
OP 213
A1 Fuist, Todd Nicholas
A1 Josephsohn, Thomas J.
A2 Josephsohn, Thomas J.
LA English
YR 2013
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1752583310
AB Recent work in cultural sociology has noted the importance of boundaries for understanding intergroup relations. Within the sociology of religion, this has manifested in research into interreligious conflict and cooperation. However, the current literature often assumes that boundaries have fixed qualities and generate clear consequences for group interaction. In this article, we draw on two data sets, comprising interviews and ethnographic data on ten different religious groups from a variety of faith traditions, to demonstrate that cultural resources, including religious beliefs, may be used to assess the meaning and saliency of boundaries. Particular qualities of boundaries shape how social actors understand and interpret group difference, suggesting that boundaries themselves are a site of struggle. Finally, we use the concept of relational principles as a heuristic device to organize and understand the different ways that our subjects manage and assess competing boundaries.
K1 Boundaries
K1 Culture
K1 Identity
K1 Religion
DO 10.1177/2050303213490042