Peter L' Berger

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Peter L. Berger
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Reality is socially constructed

• All reality is fictional
• It is a product of human invention (rather than
  being derived from the laws of nature, etc.)
• Reality is transmitted through socialization and
  a process of internalization in which
  significant others (e.g., parents and various
  authority figures) reinforce specific views of
  the world, moral obligations, etc.

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Liberation

• Freedom to choose occurs when we experience a
  conflict in worldviews and the artificiality
  (fictional quality) becomes evident
• At which time we may seize the opportunity to
  create our own values, worldview

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Conversion

• Is the process of switching worldviews
• But this requires connecting with a new set of
  significant others who will reinforce and help
  maintain the new reality
• Ritual is the age-old means of making vivid and
  present fundamental reality definitions
• He draws heavily on Durkheim
• Religious innovation is an act of human freedom
• He draws on Webers view of charismatic prophet

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Typical functions of religion

• Religion legitimates socially constructed
  worldviews (e.g., caste system, gender roles,
  political views)
• Religion functions to spare men/women from the
  terror of anomy and chaos (e.g., by making
  reference to Gods intervention, ultimate plan)

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Not all religion need be alienating

• Prophetic religion exposes the idolatry of much
  popular religion (which exists to serve the
  self-interest of institutions and individuals)
• Berger personally favors a type of radical
  monotheism (I.e., the God beyond all man-made
  gods, who stands in judgment of human attempts to
  create the divine)