Ambience Contaminated : Sensory Experiences and the Frontier of Religion

The evolving landscape of religion in modern society remains an intriguing topic to us. With its increasingly intricate and diverse expressions, it is definitely challenging for us to define the "religion" through traditional theoretical frameworks as well as institutions, rituals and symbols. In contrast, religious/spiritual experiences that are seamlessly interwoven into the fabric of everyday life seem to resonate more with the contemporary soul. How can we comprehend these changes and their implications? 

 

This book introduces the concept of "atmospheric religion" as a framework to analyze the elusive qualities of contemporary religion. Atmospheric religion is a form of religiosity that pervades the sensory and conscious spaces. Through the interplay of material and emotional media, it creates atmospheres engaging our senses, evoking our emotions and religious imaginations in fleeting moments of transcendence. This process not only allows religion to transcend beyond politics, to reach more participants, but also fosters a more multifaceted and nuanced religious and spiritual experiences.