Living in a Material World: Religious Commodification and Resistance

Abstract

This chapter will explore the impact of immigration on the relationship between religion and consumer culture in Britain. It will focus particularly on the ways in which globalisation and commodification have accelerated the consumption of ‘ethnic’ goods, be they cultural or religious. Whilst for some there are no limits where commodification is concerned, for others there is a clear boundary that cannot be traversed. Religious commodification is an arena in which there is an increasing interest, especially as religious symbols and artefacts are being appropriated by both adherents and non-adherents in an attempt to capitalise on a growing market. As developments in this field are very recent, this chapter will draw on examples cited on the internet.