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A Matter of Choice: A Micro-Level Study on how Swedish New Agers Choose their Religious Beliefs and Practices

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  • Jenny-Ann Brodin

Abstract

A necessary, but surprisingly neglected, postulate within economic and rational choice theories on religious phenomena is that religion is a matter of individual choice. But what does it actually mean to choose religion? Is it a choice similar to other choices - or is it something rather different? In this article individual choices of religious beliefs and practices, both from theoretical and empirical points of view, are discussed. The empirical material consists of ten in-depth interviews within one particular, and also rather special, religious field - namely the Swedish New Age movement. Some of the main findings concern the respondents' strategies to estimate costs/benefits and to reduce different kinds of uncertainty. In the interviews we find an interesting duality. On the one hand there seems to be a highly individualized ideology, stressing individual responsibility and authority; on the other hand social contacts and recommendations seem to be of great importance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenny-Ann Brodin, 2003. "A Matter of Choice: A Micro-Level Study on how Swedish New Agers Choose their Religious Beliefs and Practices," Rationality and Society, , vol. 15(3), pages 381-405, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:15:y:2003:i:3:p:381-405
    DOI: 10.1177/10434631030153005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Iannaccone, Laurence R & Finke, Roger & Stark, Rodney, 1997. "Deregulating Religion: The Economics of Church and State," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 35(2), pages 350-364, April.
    4. Laurence R. Iannaccone, 1998. "Introduction to the Economics of Religion," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 36(3), pages 1465-1495, September.
    5. Laurence R. Iannaccone, 1991. "The Consequences of Religious Market Structure," Rationality and Society, , vol. 3(2), pages 156-177, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Miran LavriÄ & Sergej Flere, 2010. "Measuring religious costs and rewards in a cross-cultural perspective," Rationality and Society, , vol. 22(2), pages 223-236, May.

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