"In this new edition, Alan Aldridge examines the complex realities of religious belief, practice and institutions, ranging from the high growth rates of successful minority religious movements such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, to the phenomenal rise of Pentecostalism, the challenge of 'fundamentalism' and the apparent turn from religion to spirituality." "The second edition has been revised to make sure it is full up-to-date with recent developments and themes. Major themes in the revised edition include religious diversity and its implications for social cohesion, and the paradoxical fate of religion in societies that appear to be obsessed with individualism and consumerism." "This book will appeal strongly to a range of readers, especially students taking courses in the sociology of religion, and anyone who is interested in the place of religion in the contemporary world."--BOOK JACKET.