Food crises and religion in late modernity. Changes, reinterpretations and commercialisation of dietary principles in the Hare Krishna cult

Abstract

The socio-historical development of religious cults and spiritual movements in industrialised societies since the second half of the 20th century has demonstrated a rupture with classical paradigms in sociology of religion. Specifically, religiosity and spirituality in late modernity have been revealed as dynamic processes marked by a significant commercialisation of their ideas and principles. Simultaneously, as a result of the emergence of the so-called “society of risk” and the various changes in the patterns of food production and distribution, food insecurities and concerns have progressively increased. This paper aims to describe and analyse at different levels the consequences of these changes in the Hare Krishna cult.