The Altars Where We Worship: The Religious Significance of Popular Culture

Statisticians insist that the fastest growing segment of the American public are those who no longer go to church or identify with institutionalized religion. In The Altars Where We Worship, the authors examine the religious dimension 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.

This provocative study reveals how these secular altars have subtly usurped the allegiance of millions, thereby altering their understanding of the self, others, and the world itself. 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.