Hyper-real Religion. An interview with Adam Possamai

Jon Baldwin: You open the introduction to the collection, Handbook of Hyper-real Religions, with the definition, “Hyper-real religion refers to a simulacrum of a religion, created out of, or in symbiosis with, popular culture, which provides inspiration for believers/consumers.” (Possamai 2012: 1) At the end of the introduction, after acknowledging various comments and critiques, the definition is refined and becomes “a hyper-real religion is a simulacrum of a religion created out of, or in symbiosis with, commodified popular culture which provides inspiration at a metaphorical level and/or is a source of beliefs for everyday life.” (Possamai 2012: 20) Accepting then, that the discussion of hyper-real religion is open and on-going, have there been any significant developments in the meantime that would modify the definition further?