Religion, dissonance, and systems theory : finding commonalities in spiritual traditions / Ariel Glucklich, Georgetown University.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Glucklich, Ariel, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religions.

Phenomenology.

Cognitive dissonance.

System theory.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 255 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2025.

Summary:

Religious belief systems are often marked by internal dissonance. Mitigating this dissonance can lead to surprising religious phenomena, including blood libels, scapegoating, religious violence, the worship of saints and martyrs, asceticism, austerities, as well as processions, fasting, and clowning. In this study, Ariel Glucklich provides a new approach to understanding how religious actions emerge in the context of belief systems. Providing an innovative psychological and social understanding of the causes that stimulate believers to action, he examines a range of religious phenomena in India, Israel, Austria, Italy, and the United States. Glucklich's new theory enables recognition of the patterns that account for the full complexity of actions inspired by religious beliefs and systems. His systematic comparison of actions across traditional boundaries offers a novel approach to cause and effect in comparative religion and religious studies more broadly. Glucklich's book also generates new questions regarding a universal phenomenon that has escaped notice up to now.

Contents:

The religious system

Gush Emunim and VHP

The martyrdom of Andreas of Rinn

Saint Efisio in Cagliari

Perceiving God

The dissonant body

The religious clown.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Feb 2026).

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-009-63502-6

1-009-63501-8

1-009-63498-4

OCLC:

1574810317