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Neosecularization and Craft Versus Professional Religious Authority in a Nonreligious Organization
Author(s) -
Grant Don,
O'Neil Kathleen M.,
Stephens Laura S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal for the scientific study of religion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1468-5906
pISSN - 0021-8294
DOI - 10.1111/1468-5906.00196
Subject(s) - craft , secularization , scope (computer science) , sociology , religious organization , secularism , state (computer science) , management , public relations , political science , law , politics , history , archaeology , algorithm , computer science , economics , programming language
At the same time many religious organizations are apparently becoming more internally secularized, other nonreligious organizations appear to be going through a countervailing process of “sacralization” (Demerath). This study explores this development through a case study of a state university hospital that attempted to created a more “holistic” corporate culture. Extending research on the declining scope of religious authority (Chaves) and professional systems (Abbott), this study suggests that secular settings may be fertile ground for craft versions of religious authority to develop. Implications of the latter during an age when authority structures and caring tasks in general are being downsized and devolved are discussed.