Abstract
The Author studies the mode of appearance of religion in the popular, serialized, German novel. Through the different versions of this literary genre (sentimental novel, medical novel, regional history, western...) the analysis permits the discovery of a functio nal, lived experience comparable to the religious experience habi tually investigated by the social sciences with the aid of other indicators.
« Trivial religion » with this light shed upon it seems to corres pond rather well to aesthetic or philosophical needs for security, the very simple structure of which accord with the role of the con sumer as individual.
