Religion in meaning making and boundary work: theoretical explorations

Area of Science:

• Sociocultural Psychology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Religious elements serve as resources for orientation, interpretation, and action.
• Understanding religious differences is key to social organization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the uses of religious elements for meaning-making.
• To examine religious differences through a boundary work lens.
• To develop a theoretical framework for understanding religion in contemporary society.

Main Methods:

• Transversal analysis of articles within a special issue.
• Sociocultural psychological perspective on meaning-making dynamics.
• Boundary work perspective on the organization of religious differences.

Main Results:

• Religious elements are utilized for self-orientation in social and temporal contexts.
• Religious elements guide actions and facilitate the creation of new life forms.
• The study analyzes how religious differences are managed, including boundary creation, transgression, and dissolution.

Conclusions:

• The articulation of meaning-making and boundary work provides a robust theoretical frame.
• This integrated approach enhances the apprehension of religions in contemporary societal contexts.
• The research highlights the link between the use of religious elements and the dynamics of power.