Bulletin ET - Heft 1 /2006

In his most remarkable book, Consuming Religion, the North-American theologian Vincent Miller addresses the effects of the commodification of society and the habits of consumer culture on religion in contemporary society. Very convincingly Miller argues that for Christians and their churches, consumer culture is not something out there, but qualifies from the very start their individual and communal identities. As far as Europe is concerned, it would seem that, because of the many other challenges European theology faces today (such as the resurgence of religion in society and new religious movements, the multicultural society and religious pluralism, etc.), a theological engagement of consumer culture hardly appears on its agenda. However, the provocation of consumer culture should not be lost sight of. It is indeed worthwhile to enquire whether Miller's thoughts offer an adequate analysis of the situation of religion and Christianity in Europe, and, consequently, whether the remedies he proposes, will be effective in bringing Christian faith into practice in our European societies, cultures and churches. In this Special Issue of Bulletin ET, therefore, the challenges of consumer culture for culture and Christian faith are addressed from a variety of perspectives, in dialogue with Miller's groundbreaking analysis. Apart from Miller, introducing his positions to a European audience, seven European theologians and philosophers take part in this dialogue: Edmund Arens (Luzern), Lieven Boeve (Leuven), Eamonn Conway (Limerick), Paul Cortois (Leuven), Yves De Maeseneer (Leuven), Walter Lesch (Louvain-la-Neuve), and Peter Scott (Manchester).