Re-interpreting Durkheim's theory of the sacred, this book sets out a theory of the sacred for use across a range of humanities and social science disciplines and draws on contemporary case study material to show how sacred forms - whether in 'religious' or 'secular' guise - continue to shape social life in the modern world.

• Introduction: Why do we need a sociology of the sacred?


• 1: Ontological and Durkheimian theories of the sacred


• 2: After Durkheim: the development of a cultural sociology of the sacred


• 3: Dominant and subjugated sacred forms: interpreting the systemic abuse and neglect of children in the Irish Industrial School system


• 4: The mediatization of the sacred: the BBC, Gaza and the DEC appeal


• 5: Living with the light and shadow of the sacred


• Conclusion