Key Categories in the Study of Religion: Contexts and Critiques

Key Categories in the Study of Religion examines the relationship between context and critique in the academic study of religion, focusing on four key contextual categories: citizenship and politics, class and economy, gender and sexuality, and race and ethnicity. The volume explores how scholars construct and critique these categories, the impact of context on critical analysis, and the ways method, theory, and data are mobilized through context as the primary impetus for critical analysis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 12 July 2022
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

The study of religion encompasses a wide range of key categories that are essential for understanding its complexities and nuances. Key Categories in the Study of Religion, a groundbreaking volume published by the North American Association for the Study of Religion (NAASR), builds upon the previous NAASR Working Papers titles to delve into the intricate relationship between context and critique. This comprehensive volume brings together diverse sets of data to explore pertinent categories in which critique occurs, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the academic study of religion.

At the heart of this volume are four key contextual categories that serve as the foundation of the academic study of religion. These categories are citizenship and politics, class and economy, gender and sexuality, and race and ethnicity. The contributors to this volume engage in a thoughtful exploration of questions related to the construction of these categories and the critique of scholars who engage with them. They also examine the decision-making processes involved in approaching the critical study of these topics and the impact that the context of a scholar's research has on the methods and approaches employed in their critique.

Using these inquiries as a starting point, Key Categories in the Study of Religion investigates the ways in which method, theory, and data are mobilized through context as the primary impetus for critical analysis. Each section of the volume begins with an orienting essay that provides an in-depth exploration of its respective category. These introductory chapters include an analysis of the construction of categories in academic discourse, an argument advocating or critiquing scholarship within that vein, and an exploration of its implications for the study of religion.

Following each orienting essay, there are four responses authored by scholars intentionally selected to highlight diverse contexts. These responses extend the conclusions of the orienting essay by offering novel analysis based on their own scholarly expertise and subject matter. They underscore instances of both congruence.

Weight: 4078g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781799666