Sociology has taken a recent and unexpected theological turn that has radical implications for reflexivity. This original study explores these in four areas: visual aspects of reflexivity and theology; Simmel and Mauss on prayer as a form of spiritual capital; identity and the constitution of character; and finally, and most controversially, a reflection on sociological expectations of theology. This is one of the few works that explores a new terrain with profound implications for sociology and theology.

This lively and highly original study explores the link between visual culture and religion in terms of tales, memory and character. It draws out the sociological implications of handling the virtual and virtue in ways of seeing. Using Simmel's approach to religiosity in his third study of sociology in theology, Flanagan explores how spectacle is to be understood in ways that yield trust. The study will be invaluable for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on visual culture, sociology of religion and theology. Postgraduate and advanced-level Undergraduate students and researchers studying Sociology of Religion, Culture and Society, Visual Culture, Sociological Theory Teachers and Lecturers in departments of Sociology, Anthropology, Theology and Cultural Studies

This is a study of the social construction and the impression management of the public forms of worship of Catholicism and Anglicanism. Interest centres on the dilemmas of the liturgical actors in handling a transaction riddled with ambiguities and potential misunderstandings. Simmel, Berger and Goffman are used in an original manner to understand these rites which pose as much of a problem for sociology as for their practitioners.;These rites are treated as forms of play and hermeneutics is linked to a negative theology to understand their performative basis. The study is an effort to link sociology to theology in a way that serves to focus on an issue of social praxis.

This unusual sociological study examines the issue of enchantment in terms of habitus and charisma. It seeks to overcome a fated notion of disenchantment in a culture of postmodernity. Crossing between theological and sociological self-understandings of culture, the study criticizes conventions of secularisation so as to defend the viability of theological forms of enchantment. Through a reading of Bourdieu, Simmel and the Swiss theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, the book attempts to supply theology with its own sociological self-understanding of religious belief and culture, but also to give to sociology a basis of theological reflexivity.

Why do ideas fail? Even good ones?

Why are environmental scientists unable to engage the general public despite overwhelming peer agreement. strong data and the factthat the future of all humanity is hanging in the balance?

Why has gender equality, an idea with implict value, faltered with women paid only 77 in the male dollar with 3% board representation for over fifty years?

Why are so many new products relegated to clearance sales, how is it that so many great sales people fall short of their monthly targetsand what are leaders doing that they now face unprecedented levels of disengagement?

And that's just during working hours In our personal lives: parents feel more alienated from their children, our partners now view uswith a look that says, "I am disappointed in you as a human being," and we all seem rather incapable of dealing with ourselves withanything more than the kind of withering judgement John Cleese reserved for Manuel on Fawlty Towers. The problem is, we are all selfish, scared and stupid.

Now we know what you're thinking: "Geez ... tell us what you rea lly think " After all, we've all enjoyed decades of having the smoke blown up our backsides by self-help gurus with massive teeth claiming we are all "unique snowflakes filled with the spirit of pure potentiality." But that's part of the problem. Most of us suffer from positive bias - that is we live with a distorted view of reality. We act as if we are all generous, bold and intelligent, and as a result we adopt hope as a strategy, we shun criticism as pessimism and at the first sign of negativity, we get our ostrich on and bury our head in the sand, or else, pump our fists in the air and recite cheery affirmations laced with doubt and desperation. And the truth is, being selfish, scared and stupid has played a critical role in our species' survival.

The point is, we don't design for failure, we design our organisations, our teams, our systems, our products, relationships and lives such that they can only succeed under perfect. laboratory-like conditions. Anything less than perfect often means catastophe. In "Selfish Scared & Stupid," we demonstrate that to increase your chances of success in life, to get people to buy and to buy-in, you should instead design for reality and appeal to people's selfish, scared and stupid instincts.

Bring an array of aliens—both weird and familiar—to your science fantasy adventures with Interstellar Species, the newest rulebook for the Starfinder Roleplaying Game! This gorgeously illustrated reference provides deep dives on 25 playable Starfinder species, each with thematic player options usable by any character, plus new options for 7 Starfinder character classes. There's also a system for easily creating your own playable species, and a catalog of around 100 thematic nonplayer characters ready to slot into any adventure! A new class, the evolutionist, allows you to transform yourself over time into an eldritch being, mechanized construct, sepulchral undead, or riot of biological potential, each with unique abilities—and drawbacks, should you allow your transformation to grow out of control.

This lively and highly original study explores the link between visual culture and religion in terms of tales, memory and character. It draws out the sociological implications of handling the virtual and virtue in ways of seeing. Using Simmel's approach to religiosity in his third study of sociology in theology, Flanagan explores how spectacle is to be understood in ways that yield trust. The study will be invaluable for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on visual culture, sociology of religion and theology.

Enhance your Starfinder experience with this invaluable game resource covering all aspects of the Starfinder rules! From totally revised fundamentals like core classes and starship combat to brand-new systems for expanding the way you play, this 192-page hardcover rules resource offers fresh ideas while still blending with the existing system. With Starfinder Enhanced at hand, you’ll be ready for the countless challenges of infinite space! Starfinder Enhanced includes: • New versions of the envoy, solarian, technomancer, and witchwarper classes, all revised to make them more balanced and easier to play. • New class features and character options for every Starfinder class published to date! • New archetypes, spells, equipment, and over 90 new feats. Truly build the character you want! • Rules for scalable equipment, so you never have to trade-in your trusty sidearm ever again. • New subsystems for narrative starship combat, expanded creature companions, and new chances to spend Resolve Points for every character! • 12 playable species including fan favorites and entirely new options, from the shapeshifting kitsune to the tiny novians born from dying suns!