A Universe of Terms: Religion in Visual Metaphor

A Universe of Terms: Religion in Visual Metaphor is a groundbreaking book that combines text and image to explore the human as both catalyst of crisis and agent for its mitigation. It acknowledges the significance of certain terms to the social sciences and humanities, narrates their limitations, and urges the iterative rethinking of new terms. It explores religious media in postcolonial and secular contexts, performances of religious feeling, the political economy of religion, sacred presence, and human striving amid social inequality and climate change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 08 November 2022
Publisher: Indiana University Press

Fostering a more inclusive, responsible, and communicative future is a crucial goal for our society. Illustrated scholarship can be a powerful tool in achieving this aim. In their groundbreaking book, "A Universe of Terms: Religion in Visual Metaphor," Mona Oraby and Emilie Flamme present a unique approach to scholarly communication that combines text and image to explore the human as both catalyst of crisis and principal agent for its mitigation.

The book is organized around eight terms in the study of religion, each of which is examined through the lens of visual metaphor. By combining text and image, the authors create an alternative form for scholarly communication that stages conversations between thinkers who likely would not all find themselves in the same room.

One of the key strengths of "A Universe of Terms" is its recognition of the significance of certain terms to the social sciences and the humanities. The book acknowledges the limitations of these terms and argues that we need a structure and style for thinking them otherwise. It further urges the iterative rethinking of any new terms that this exercise yields.

Through its unique visual lexicon, "A Universe of Terms" explores religious media in postcolonial and secular contexts, performances of religious feeling, the political economy of religion, sacred presence, and human striving amid social inequality and climate change. The book is beautifully illustrated and inspired by a range of media from graphic novels to podcasts, creating a visual experiment that invites readers to think again and anew about how the visual is integral to thought.

In conclusion, "A Universe of Terms: Religion in Visual Metaphor" is a groundbreaking book that offers a unique approach to scholarly communication. By combining text and image, the authors create an alternative form that fosters conversations between thinkers from different fields and encourages the iterative rethinking of important terms. Through its exploration of religious media in postcolonial and secular contexts, performances of religious feeling, the political economy of religion, sacred presence, and human striving, the book provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between religion and society. It is a must-read for anyone interested in fostering a more inclusive, responsible, and communicative future.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253064172