Introducing anthropology of religion / Jack David Eller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Eller, Jack David, 1959- author.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Anthropology of religion.

Physical Description:

xiv, 341 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2015.

Summary:

This clear and engaging guide introduces students to key areas of the field and shows how to apply an anthropological approach to the study of religion in the contemporary world. Written by an experienced teacher, it covers major traditional topics including definitions, theories and beliefs as well as symbols, myth and ritual. The book also explores important but often overlooked issues such as morality, violence, fundamentalism, secularization, and new religious movements. The chapters all contain lively case studies of religions practiced around the world. The second edition of Introducing Anthropology of Religion contains updated theoretical discussion plus fresh ethnographic examples throughout. In addition to a brand new chapter on vernacular religion, Eller provides a significantly revised chapter on the emerging anthropologies of Christianity and Islam. The book features more material on contemporary societies as well as new coverage of topics such as pilgrimage and paganism. Images, a glossary and questions for discussion are now included and additional resources are provided via a companion website. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Studying Religion Anthropologically: Definitions and Theories 1

Studying Religion "Anthropologically" 1

Studying "Religion" Anthropologically 6

"Studying" Religion Anthropologically 10

Conclusion 26

2 Religious Belief: Entities and Concepts 27

The Anthropology of Belief 28

Religious Ideas: Beings and Forces 31

Religious Conceptions: The Universe and Human Existence 41

Conclusion 48

3 Religious Symbols and Specialists 50

The Anthropology of Symbolism 51

Religious Symbols and Objects 58

Religious Specialists 66

Conclusion 75

4 Religious Language 76

Myth as Religious Language 77

Types and Themes of Myth 79

The Structural Study of Myth 83

Myth as Oral Literature 85

Religious Language as Performance 91

The Power of Words 96

Conclusion 99

5 Religious Action: Ritual 101

The Anthropology of Ritual and Ritualization 102

The Diversity of Religious Ritual 107

Rites of Passage: The Structure of Ritual 116

Ritual Fields, Ritual Performances, and "Social Theater" 118

Pilgrimage: Religion in Motion 120

Conclusion 123

6 Religion, Morality, and Social Order 125

The Anthropology of Morality 126

The Efficacy of Religion: formation and Transformation 131

Religion and the Social Order 137

Conclusion 148

7 Religious Change and New Religious Movements 150

The Anthropology of Religious Change 151

Religion and Revitalization: Using Religion to Bring Society Back to Life 158

Case Study: The Blending of Religions in Cao Dai 170

Case Study: Change within Religion in the "Emerging Church" Movement 173

Conclusion 174

8 Translocal Religion: Islam and Christianity 176

The Anthropology of the "Great Transformation" 177

"Conversion" to Translocal Religions 180

The Anthropology of Islam 183

The Anthropology of Christianity 190

Conclusion 200

9 Vernacular Religion 202

The Anthropology of Vernacular Religion 203

Vernacular Religion in Television and Cinema 208

Vernacular Religion in Business and the Economy 212

The Varieties of Pagan Experience 217

Vernacular Christianity in the United States 221

Conclusion 226

10 Religious Violence 228

The Anthropology of Violence 229

Religion as Explanation and justification for Violence 233

The Diversity of Religious Violence 236

Conclusion 252

11 Secularism and Irreligion 254

The Anthropology of Secularism 255

Varieties of Secular Experience 260

The Contemporary Secular (Anti-Religion) Movement 273

Conclusion 277

12 Religious Fundamentalism 279

The Anthropology of Fundamentalism 280

Christian Fundamentalisms 287

Fundamentalisms in Cross-Cultural Perspective 293

Conclusion 303.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-331) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9781138024908

1138024902

9781138024915

1138024910

OCLC:

898157332

Publisher Number:

99961141410