Peter L. Berger (1929–2017)
Author of The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge
About the Author
Peter Ludwig Berger was born in Vienna, Austria on March 17, 1929. He immigrated to the United States when he was 17 years old. He received a bachelor's degree from Wagner College in 1949 and did his doctoral work at the New School in Manhattan. He was a theologian who was known for his work in the show more sociology of knowledge, understanding how humans experience everyday reality. He taught at several universities including Boston University, the New School for Social Research, Brooklyn College, Rutgers University, and Boston College. He wrote many books during his lifetime including The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge, A Rumor of Angels: Modern Society and the Rediscovery of the Supernatural, The Noise of Solemn Assemblies: Christian Commitment, The Religious Establishment in America, The Heretical Imperative: Contemporary Possibilities of Religious Affirmation, and A Far Glory: The Quest for Faith in an Age of Credulity. He died from heart failure on June 27, 2017 at the age of 88. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Peter L. Berger
The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics (1999) — Editor — 143 copies
The noise of solemn assemblies; Christian commitment and the religious establishment in America (1961) 101 copies
The Capitalist Revolution: Fifty Propositions About Prosperity, Equality, and Liberty (1986) 78 copies
Questions of Faith: A Skeptical Affirmation of Christianity (Religion and Spirituality in the Modern World) (2003) 61 copies
Adventures of an Accidental Sociologist: How to Explain the World Without Becoming a Bore (2011) 30 copies
To Empower People: The Role of Mediating Structures in Public Policy (Studies in political and social processes) (1985) 28 copies
Between Relativism and Fundamentalism: Religious Resources for a Middle Position (2009) — Editor — 25 copies
The Limits of Social Cohesion: Conflict and Mediation in Pluralist Societies, 1998 | Online Research Library: Questia (1997) 22 copies
Against the World for the World: The Hartford Appeal and the Future of American Religion (1976) 18 copies
Christian Social Ethics in a Global Era (Abingdon Press Studies in Christian Ethics and Economic Life, Vol 1) (1995) 16 copies
The Hidden Form of Capital: Spiritual Influences in Societal Progress (Anthem Studies in Development and Globalization) (2010) 13 copies
Aspiring to freedom: Commentaries on John Paul II's encyclical The Social concerns of the Church (1988) — Contributor — 11 copies
Religion in a Revolutionary Society (Distinguished lecture series on the Bicentennial) (1974) 2 copies
comprendre la sociologie 2 copies
Speaking to the Third World: Essays on Democracy and Development (Studies in Religion, Philosophy, & Public Policy) (1985) 2 copies
Modernlesme ve Bilinc 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Berger, Peter Ludwig
- Birthdate
- 1929-03-17
- Date of death
- 2017-06-27
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Austria (birth)
USA (naturalized) - Birthplace
- Vienna, Austria
- Place of death
- Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
- Cause of death
- heart failure
- Places of residence
- New York, New York, USA
Bad Boll, Germany
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Hartford, Connecticut, USA - Education
- Wagner College (BA|1949)
The New School (MA|1950)
The New School (PhD|1954) - Occupations
- sociologist
- Relationships
- Berger, Brigitte (wife)
- Organizations
- Evangelische Akademie
Universidad de Carolina del Norte
Hartford Seminary
The New School
Rutgers University
Boston College (show all 10)
Boston University
Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs
American Sociological Association
Eastern Sociological Society - Awards and honors
- Mannes Sperber Prize ( [1992])
Honorary Doctorate (Loyola University)
Honorary Doctorate (Wagner College)
Honorary Doctorate (University of Notre Dame)
Honorary Doctorate (University of Geneva)
Honorary Doctorate (University of Munich)
Members
Reviews
The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in… by Peter L. Berger
cited in Freidson, E. Profession of Medicine p. 206
A look at the twentieth century and its rejection of the supernatural.
Investigates some of the psychology and sociology of religion, how it connects to many of the extremes of human experience and gives them meaning. Other themes include the relationship between faith and reason, between cognitive minorities and majorities, and how liberal and traditional takes on religion deal with these elements differently. I found myself nodding along at many of the observations and interpretations, though it lacked any particularly surprising conclusions or original insight.
However it does provide a good framework for thinking about the role of history and previous human experiences in determining the future development of theology. We are left with the conclusion an anthropological starting point must be taken for producing any intellectually satisfying, and faith deserving theology.… (more)
However it does provide a good framework for thinking about the role of history and previous human experiences in determining the future development of theology. We are left with the conclusion an anthropological starting point must be taken for producing any intellectually satisfying, and faith deserving theology.… (more)
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Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 59
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 5,425
- Popularity
- #4,592
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 34
- ISBNs
- 258
- Languages
- 21
- Favorited
- 10
- Touchstones
- 8