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He broadens his discussion to include how modern secular cultures manifest religious qualities—rituals, communal bonding, symbols, and morality—without explicit belief in a higher deity. For instance, celebrity worship functions as a form of devotion, and music festivals like Burning Man or Grateful Dead concerts create collective spiritual experiences.
Latterman also critiques how societal systems, including capitalism, mirror religious structures—complete with rituals, symbols, and shared values—yet often lack moral or spiritual grounding. Social media, with its performative displays and obsessive validation, may serve as a new form of religion, replacing traditional faith with virtual identity and approval.