Introduction to the Study of Religion
Price: $100.00
Add to Cart- ISBN: 978-0-415-40888-2
- Binding: Hardback (also available in Paperback)
- Published by: Routledge
- Publication Date: 20th August 2008
- Pages: 192
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About the Book
Why do people study religion? How have they studied it in the past? How do we study religion today? Is the academic study of religion the same as religious education? These and many other questions are addressed in this engaging introduction to the discipline of religious studies, written by two experienced university teachers. The authors have crafted this book to familiarize novice students with key concepts and terminology in the study of religion. More advanced students will find a varied array of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to the field. Topics include:
- definitions of religion
- perspectives in the study and teaching of religion
- how religion began to be studied: traditional perspectives – philosophical and theological
- how people experience religion: perspectives in the study of religious consciousness and perception – phenomenological and psychological
- studying religion within communities: Social and cultural perspectives – anthropological, sociological, political and economic
- judging religion: critical perspectives –feminist approaches, the interaction of popular literature and religion
- contextual perspectives – historical and comparative
The book encourages students to think critically about the theories and methods presented. Students will find arguments for the strengths and limitations of these approaches, understand connections among religious studies and other intellectual movements, and develop their own ideas of how they might want to go about the study of religion. Summary boxes, a timeline, a glossary and other pedagogic aids help students grasp key concepts, along with a companion website at www.sastor.com.
Hillary Rodrigues is chair of the Religious Studies department at the University of Lethbridge, Canada, and recipient of that institution's Distinguished Teaching Award (2000). He is author of Introducing Hinduism (Routledge, 2005).
John S. Harding is a member of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge.
Table of Contents
1. Defining Religion 2. How Religion Began To Be Studied: Traditional Perspectives 3. Studying Religion Within Communities: Social and Cultural Perspectives 4. How People Experience Religion: Perspectives in the Study of Religious Consciousness and Perception 5. Judging Religion: Critical Perspectives and Evaluations 6. Studying Religion in Context: Perspectives and Conclusion Chronology of Significant Persons and Seminal Texts GlossaryAbout the Author(s)
Hillary Rodrigues received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from McGill in 1975. However, extensive travel in the Americas, Europe, and Asia fostered an interest in education and the study of religion and culture. After several years of teaching in both alternative and conventional educational settings, he obtained his BA ('86), MA ('88) and PhD (93) in Religious Studies from McMaster University. He received the U of L Distinguished Teaching Award in 2000. He has served as Chair of the Anthropology Department of the University of Lethbridge.
John S. Harding received his BA in Asian Studies with a minor in Religion from the University of Puget Sound in 1994. He pursued his graduate work in Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia along with research in Japan and one year at the University of Cambridge in England. John received his Ph.D. from Penn in 2003 shortly before joining the Religious Studies Department at the University of Lethbridge.