2nd Edition

Studying Religion An Introduction

By Russell McCutcheon Copyright 2019
    290 Pages
    by Routledge

    290 Pages
    by Routledge

    Widely used as a primer, a class text, or just a provocation to critical thinking, Studying Religion clearly explains the methods and theories employed in the academic study of religion by tackling the problem of how we define religion. Written for newcomers to the field, its chapters explore the three main ways in which religion is defined and, along the way, also considers a range of related topics, from the history and functions of religion to public discourse on religion, religion in the courts, and the classification of religions. The works of classic and contemporary scholars—from Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud to Bruce Lincoln and Wendy Doniger—are analyzed and explored in its readable chapters and detailed supporting materials. Studying Religion represents a shift away from the traditional world religions approach and, instead, invites readers to consider how they divide up, name, and come to know the world around them.

    Thoroughly revised throughout, this second edition now includes a significantly expanded glossary, summaries of technical terms and global case studies at the end of each chapter, and additional biographies of key scholars mentioned. This book will be invaluable to all students of religious studies—whether in the introductory class or as an example of an alternative way of approaching the field.

    Preface to the 2nd Edition

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction

    What is the Study of Religion?

    Example: ‘…, But Not Specially Defined’

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 1

    What’s in a Name?

    Example: Fruit or Vegetable?

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 2

    The History of ‘Religion’

    Example: ‘Religion’ on the Colonial Frontier

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 3

    The Essentials of Religion

    Criticisms

    Example: ‘He’s Your Father!’

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 4

    The Functions of Religion

    Criticisms

    Example: ‘People Started to Come to Her for Healing’

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 5

    The Resemblances Among Religions

    Criticisms

    Example: ‘Not an Easy Task’

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 6

    The Public Discourse on Religion

    Example: Public Muslim Cemeteries in France

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 7

    Religion and the Insider/Outsider Problem

    Example: Under the Academic Microscope

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Chapter 8

    Religion and Classification

    Example: The World Religions Paradigm

    Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars

    Afterword

    The Necessary Lie: Duplicity in the Disciplines

    by Jonathan Z. Smith

    Honesty Is the Best Pedagogy

    by K. Merinda Simmons

    Glossary

    Scholars

    Bibliography

    Resources

    Index

    Biography

    Russell T. McCutcheon is University Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, USA.

    ‘If you find yourself teaching a course on the study of religion or need to get a brief history and recent thinking on the subject, this expanded edition of Studying Religion has you in mind. This book is both practical and, as Lévi-Strauss might say, good to think with.’

    - Suzanne Owen, Leeds Trinity University, UK

    "Those who want to explore religion as part of culture should start here."

    - Matthew Recla, Boise State University, USA, Reading Religion