World Religions Books

New and Published Books

1. Religion, Language, and Power

   Edited by Nile Green, Mary Searle-Chatterjee

   Series: Routledge Studies in Religion

   Religion, Language and Power shows that the language of ‘religion’ is far from neutral, and that the packaging and naming of what English speakers call ‘religious’ groups or identities is imbued with the play of power. Religious Studies has all too often served to amplify voices from other...

   Published May 14th 2012 by Routledge
2. Christianity and the State in Asia

   Complicity and Conflict

   Edited by Julius Bautista, Francis Khek Gee Lim

   Series: Routledge Studies in Asian Religion and Philosophy

   Christianity is one of the most rapidly growing religions in Asia. Despite the challenges of political marginalisation, church organisations throughout much of Asia are engaged in activities - such as charity, education and commentary on public morality - that may either converge or conflict with...

   Published May 9th 2012 by Routledge
3. Cross-disciplinary Perspectives on a Contested Buddhist Site

   Bodh Gaya Jataka

   Edited by David Geary, Matthew Sayers, Abhishek Singh Amar

   Series: Routledge South Asian Religion Series

   Bodh Gaya in the North Indian state of Bihar has long been recognized as the place where the Buddha achieved enlightenment. This book brings together the recent work of twelve scholars from a variety of disciplines - anthropology, art history, history, and religion – to highlight their...

   Published April 25th 2012 by Routledge
4. A History of State and Religion in India

   By Ian Copland, Ian Mabbett, Asim Roy, Kate Brittlebank, Adam Bowles

   Series: Routledge Studies in South Asian History

   Offering the first long-duration analysis of the relationship between the state and religion in South Asia, this book looks at the nature and origins of Indian secularism. It interrogates the proposition that communalism in India is wholly a product of colonial policy and modernisation, questions...

   Published March 28th 2012 by Routledge
5. Tibetan Rituals of Death

   Buddhist Funerary Practices

   By Margaret Gouin

   Series: Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism

   This book describes and analyses the structure and performance of Tibetan Buddhist death rituals, and situates that performance within the wider context of Buddhist death practices generally. Drawing on a detailed and systematic comparative survey of existing records of Tibetan funerary practices,...

   Published March 28th 2012 by Routledge
6. Parsis in India and the Diaspora

   Edited by John Hinnells, Alan Williams

   Series: Routledge South Asian Religion Series

   The Parsis are India's smallest minority community, yet they have exercised a huge influence on the country. As pioneers in education in nineteenth century India, and as leading figures in banking and commerce, medicine, law and journalism, they were at the forefront of India's industrial...

   Published February 29th 2012 by Routledge
7. The History of Vegetarianism and Cow-Veneration in India

   By Ludwig Alsdorf

   Series: Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies

   For the first time, this influential study by Ludwig Alsdorf is made available to an English speaking audience, translated by Bal Patil. It focuses on two of the most pertinent issues in Indian religion, the history of vegetarianism and cow-veneration, and its historical approach remains relevant...

   Published February 5th 2012 by Routledge
8. Hindu Perspectives on Evolution

   Darwin, Dharma, and Design

   By C. Mackenzie Brown

   Series: Routledge Hindu Studies Series

   Providing new insights into the contemporary creationist-evolution debates, this book looks at the Hindu cultural-religious traditions of India, the Hindu Dharma traditions. By focusing on the interaction of religion and science in a Hindu context, it offers a global context for understanding...

   Published January 18th 2012 by Routledge
9. Interpreting Devotion

   The Poetry and Legacy of a Female Bhakti Saint of India

   By Karen Pechilis

   Series: Routledge Hindu Studies Series

   Devotion is a category of expression in many of the world’s religious traditions. This book looks at issues involved in academically interpreting religious devotion, as well as exploring the interpretations of religious devotion made by a sixth century poet, a twelfth century biographer, and...

   Published December 19th 2011 by Routledge
10. Buddhism in the Modern World

    Edited by David L. McMahan

    Series: Religions in the Modern World

    Buddhism in the Modern World explores the challenges faced by Buddhism today, the distinctive forms that it has taken and the individuals and movements that have shaped it. Part One discusses the modern history of Buddhism in different geographical regions, from Southeast Asia to North America....

    Published December 6th 2011 by Routledge