Overview

Making critical theory on ‘religion’ accessible to students and skeptics, this Practical Guide showcases its relevance and usefulness for research and teaching on all sorts of contemporary subjects. Why do many scholars now doubt that ‘religion’ is a useful concept for understanding aspects of our world? What’s wrong with describing things as ‘religious’ or ‘non-religious’? Why does it matter, and what can we do about it? The book begins with a toolkit of concepts and methods for doing Critical Religion. Part I provides a roadmap to navigate this critical turn in religious studies and its implications across disciplines. In Part II, we hear from three influential theorists on the importance of being critical about ‘religion’ and the ‘secular’, and what it means to them. Then in Part III we see these insights put into practice: eight pioneering scholars present case studies that show how they have applied critical approaches in their own fields. Each case highlights ways in which Critical Religion has enriched their empirical research or how they think about teaching. Through a diverse sample of cutting-edge scholarship, this book demonstrates what Critical Religion means in action. It includes perspectives on history, anthropology, sociology, political science and education, with cases representing research in contexts from Japan to the Middle East to Europe and North America.

Full Product Details

9781350256477

Table of Contents

Reviews

What can you do with theory? This accessible volume shows how the multiple approaches of critical religion generate new insights when applied to a range of contemporary and historical topics. A great resource for scholars and students with its engaging and constructive overview and applications of critical religion. * Steven Ramey, University of Alabama, USA * Bringing together influential voices interrogating the theoretical and methodological premises and foundations of the study of religion as a field of scholarly inquiry with case studies that put these points of departure to the test, this book is a timely publication in a time when the uncritical use of religion features so prominently in one-dimensional identity politics across the globe. * Carool Kersten, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium * This book is an essential entry point for anyone grappling with the question of how the concept of religion functions in our world today. Bridging theory and practice, it maps current debates while showing how critical approaches can transform both research and teaching on religion. * Lauren Horn Griffin, Louisiana State University, USA *

Author Information

Alexander Henley leads a graduate programme in Islamic Studies at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, UK, and is an associate member of The Faculty of Theology & Religion, University of Oxford, UK.

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