English | 2009 | PDF | 2 MB | 193 Pages
Hillary P. Rodrigues, John S. Harding
ISBNs: 0415408881, 041540889X, 9780415408882, 9780415408899, 9780203891728, 978-0415408882, 978-0415408899, 978-0203891728
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.
