In praise of mixed religion : the syncretism solution in a multifaith world / William H. Harrison.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Harrison, William H., 1965- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Syncretism (Religion).

Religions--Relations.

Religions.

Religion.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (279 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

Beaconsfield, Quebec : Canadian Electronic Library, 2014.

Place of Publication:

Montreal [Quebec] : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"The religious studies discipline has traditionally distinguished between two responses to syncretism: a subjective view, which treats syncretism as morally reprehensible, and an objective view, which treats it as a morally neutral phenomenon. William Harrison adopts a third perspective, the advocacy view, which claims that mixing religions is a good and necessary process. He cites countless examples--such as Islam's transformative encounter with Greek thought--from both history and recent years to show how religious traditions have gained theological and practical wisdom by borrowing key ideas, beliefs, and practices from outside their own movements."--Publishers website.

Contents:

Syncretism Happens

What Is Religion?

Soft Boundaries

When Syncretism Is a Good Thing

... And When It's Not So Good

When It Should Have Happened, But Didn't

The Problem of Labels: What Is It Now?

Critical Openness

The Last Taboo: Education about Religion

An Intellectual Transformation.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780773592032

0773592032

9780773592025

0773592024

OCLC:

887634827