Religions in Practice : An Approach to the Anthropology of Religion

by Bowen, John R.

• ISBN13: 9780205578610
• ISBN10: 0205578616
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This widely used textbook offers a unique perspective on how people engage in everyday religious practices--such as prayer, sacrifice, initiation, and healing--by investigating broad-scale issues, such as transnationalism, gender, and religious laws. No other text examines the full spectrum of religions, from small-scale societies to full-blown "world religious movements." The in-depth treatment of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity is of particular interest to students, and is easily expanded to include field projects directly related to material covered in the text. As one reviewer writes, "In our post 9/11 era, it is great to have a book whose author has done fieldwork in Indonesia and is so knowledgeable about Islam."

Table of Contents

Preface

Studying Religion Through Practice

What is ldquo;Religionrdquo;?

An Anthropological Approach to Religion

Practices, Contexts, Diversity

Social Theory in the Anthropology of Religion

Religion as Intellectual Activity

Religions in Social Life

The Psychology of Religion

Ideas and Practices of ldquo;Religionrdquo; in Europe and Elsewhere

Western Ideas of Religion

Other Religions, Other Models

Combining Religious Practices in Japan

Ritual and the Shaping of Emotions

Rites of Passage

Initiation, Secrecy, and Fear

Death Ritual and the Social Order

Grief and Ritual Form

Transforming Selves

Gender and Anthropology Creating Gender through Ritual

Producing a Pious Female Self Converting to a New Faith

Extending our Powers: Magic and Healing

Magic, Patterns, and Causes

Explaining Misfortune

The New Age

Wicca or Modern Witchcraft

Science and Religion

Does Prayer Heal?

Narrative and Pain Relief

Does Evolution Explain Religion Can Creationists Teach Evolution?

Sorcery, Witchcraft and Modernity

La Sorcellerie in Cameroon

Azande Oracles

Sorcery and Modernity

Witchcraft as Satan versus God

Worship and Hierarchy

Sacrafice, Offerings, and Deities Bathing at Benareas Muslim-Hindu Violence

Images and Faith: Focus on Worldwide Catholicism

Relics and Images in Catholicism Mary and Marys in European Societies

Sacred Speech and Divine Power

The Qur'acirc;n as Recitation of God's Speech

The Creative Power of Navajo Speech and Song

Speech and Grace in Protestant Churches

Transnational Diaspora Religions

Transnational and Diasporic Religions

The Jewish Diaspora: History and Ritual Transnational Religion

Africa and Brazil across the Atlantic Mary in Mesoamerica South Asians Overseas

Focus on Muslims in Europe

Migration and Transnational Ties Transnational Islam in Three Senses Can European Societies be Muslim?

Religion, Radicalism, and Violence

Cults, Sects, and Violence

Explaining Where Violence Occurred: The Hindu-Muslim Case Struggle and Authority in Islam Recruitment to Terrorism 1

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