Religions of the World: Questions, Challenges, and New Directions

Religions of the World: Questions,Challenges,and New Directions provides a critical introduction to the social, political, and cultural interests that inform how people describe and identify with religion. It offers a sense of methodological transparency that few other textbooks today offer, with ten chapters discussing distinct religions and regional traditions. Each chapter introduces four popular descriptions of a particular religion or regional tradition, followed by an analysis of what this representation accomplishes and what it leaves out. A specific case study provides a real-world example of the difficulties in thinking about religion in overly simplistic ways. The text challenges students to interrogate who gets to decide on a particular portrayal of a religious tradition and the interests informing those decisions. An Afterword also discusses ways that the skills learned in the text have applicability beyond the study of religious discourses.

Format: Hardback
Length: 484 pages
Publication date: 12 February 2024
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

Religions of the World: Questions, Challenges, and New Directions is a comprehensive and critical introduction to the diverse social, political, and cultural factors that shape how individuals perceive and identify with religion. Its primary objective is to offer a sense of methodological transparency, which is rare among textbooks in the field. The book begins with an Introduction that explores contemporary methodological concerns in the study of religion, particularly focusing on the World Religions Paradigm. This is followed by ten chapters, six of which explore a specific religion, while the remaining four discuss regional traditions. The deliberate and self-conscious organization of these chapters aims to highlight how scholarly categories such as distinct traditions and regional traditions influence the ways in which insiders and outsiders discuss, practice, and engage with religion in their daily lives.

Each chapter introduces four popular descriptions or representations of a particular religion or regional tradition. These representations are then analyzed to understand their implications for those who promote them and the gaps or exclusions they may leave. Following this, a specific case study is presented to illustrate the complexities and challenges in thinking about religion in overly simplistic terms. The text does not aim to diminish or reconcile potential contradictions between these representations but rather encourages students to gain a foundational understanding of the practices, issues, and conceptions associated with global religious traditions. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the complexity behind these traditions and the need to approach them with an open mind and critical thinking.

In conclusion, Religions of the World: Questions, Challenges, and New Directions provides a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in exploring the multifaceted world of religion. Its comprehensive approach, methodological transparency, and real-world case studies offer a rich and nuanced understanding of the diverse practices, issues, and conceptions associated with global religious traditions. By encouraging critical thinking and an open-minded approach, the book empowers students to engage with religion in a more informed and nuanced manner.

Weight: 1236g
Dimension: 259 x 208 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800503755