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

Religions of the World: Questions,Challenges,and New Directions is a textbook that 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 offer, with ten chapters discussing distinct religions and four discussing 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 discusses ways that the skills learned in the text have applicability beyond the study of religious discourses.

Format: Paperback / softback
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 social, political, and cultural factors that shape how individuals describe 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 discuss a specific religion, and four of which explore regional traditions. The organization of the book is intentional and self-conscious, as the authors discuss how these scholarly categories (distinct tradition vs. regional tradition) shape the ways that both insiders and outsiders discuss, practice, and engage with religion in their daily lives.

Each chapter introduces four different popular descriptions or representations of a particular religion or regional tradition. Following each representation, an analysis is provided to examine its accomplishments and shortcomings for those who promote it. Additionally, a specific case study is presented to illustrate the challenges in thinking about religion in overly simplistic ways. The text does not aim to diminish or reconcile the potential contradictions between the different representations but rather encourages students to gain a foundational understanding of the practices, issues, and conceptions associated with global religious traditions. It also highlights the complexity behind these traditions.

In conclusion, Religions of the World: Questions,Challenges,and New Directions is an essential resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the diverse aspects of religion. It provides a comprehensive and critical introduction to the field, offering a valuable perspective on the methodological challenges and complexities involved in studying religion.

Weight: 1060g
Dimension: 254 x 204 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800503762