An Interactionist Approach to the Social Construction of Deities. Issue 4 (18th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sumerau, J.E.; Nowakowski, Alexandra C.H.; Cragun, Ryan T.
• Is Part Of: Symbolic interaction. Volume 39:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 577
• Page End: 594
• Publication Date: 2016-10-18
• Subjects: deities -- religion -- generic processes -- identity work -- supernatural phenomena; Symbolic interactionism -- Periodicals; Interactionnisme symbolique -- Périodiques; 302
• DOI: 10.1002/symb.257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6086

Abstract

Abstract : This paper examines the ways people construct and signify deities. Utilizing responses from an ethnographic study as well as analyses of existing studies of religion, we elaborate ways people construct the existence and characteristics of deities by engaging in "deity work, " which we define as the work people do to give meaning to deities as well as to themselves, others, or social phenomena related to deities. In so doing, we demonstrate how people may accomplish this in many settings by engaging in strategies of identity work including (1) defining, (2) coding, and (3) affirming the meanings of a given deity in social interaction. In conclusion, we draw out implications for understanding (1) the importance of examining deity work, and (2) some ways a focus on deity work processes may expand existing religious and interactionist studies.