Tradition : a critical primer / Steven Engler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Engler, Steven, author.

Series:

Concepts in the study of religion

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion--Methodology.

Religion.

Religion--Study and teaching.

Tradition (Theology).

Religious invention.

Physical Description:

ix, 192 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Sheffield, South Yorkshire ; Bristol, CT : Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2024.

Summary:

"Tradition: a critical primer offers a fresh exploration of the concept of tradition, moving beyond conventional definitions to uncover its deeper intersections with ideology, memory and social power. Rather than merely asking what tradition refers to, this book investigates how tradition functions as a dynamic force, linking and reflecting concepts such as authority, modernity, religion, ritual, and identity. Grounded in the study of religions, it draws from diverse theoretical perspectives--including decolonial, cognitive and hermeneutical approaches--and critically examines thinkers like Halbwachs, Gadamer and Morin. With discussions spanning religious and cultural practices across the globe, and four case studies on topics such as Brazilian Candomblé and Indigenous traditions in Canadian law, the book highlights how tradition operates in a world marked by multiple modernities, post-colonial cultural identities, and ideological conflicts. Offering students and scholars alike a toolkit for understanding tradition as a living, contested, and ideologically charged concept, this work reframes tradition as a space where identity, power, and social transformation intersect." -- Publisher, page four of cover.

Contents:

Talking tradition

Pure tradition vs. history ; Case study 1: Traditionalism and the denial of historical truth

Invention and authority ; Case study 2: Normative tradition in Candomblé

Tradition and modernity ; Case study 3: Great and little traditions

Agency and reason ; Case study 4: Indigenous tradition and Canadian law

Key thinkers of tradition

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [161]-185) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Engler, Steven. Tradition

ISBN:

9781781799079

1781799075

9781781799086

1781799083

OCLC:

1434033692

Publisher Number:

90103258755