Overview

Whereas many textbooks treat the subject of world religions in an apolitical way, as if each religion were a path for individuals seeking wisdom and not a discourse intimately connected with the exercise of power, James W. Laine treats religion and politics as halves of the same whole, tracing their relationship from the policies of Alexander the Great to the ideologies of modern Europe secularists, with stops in classical India, China, and the Islamic world. Meta-Religion is a groundbreaking text that brings power and politics to the fore of our understanding of world religions, placing religion at the center of world history. This synthetic approach is both transformative and enlightening as it presents a powerful model for thinking differently about what religion is and how it functions in the world. With images and maps to bring the narrative to life, Meta-Religion combines sophisticated scholarly critique with accessibility that students and scholar alike will appreciate.

Full Product Details

Author:   James W. Laine
Publisher:   University of California Press
Imprint:   University of California Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.454kg
ISBN:  

9780520281370

ISBN 10:   0520281373
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   03 January 2015
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

List of Illustrations Preface Introduction PART ONE. RELIGION AND EMPIRE IN ANTIQUITY, 330 B.C.--710 A.D. 1. Alexander and Ashoka: Cosmopolitan Empires and Religious Policy from Egypt to India, 330--230 B.C. 2. Imperial Religion: China to Rome, 250 BC--250 A.D. 3. The Debate over Dharma: Hindus and Buddhists Compete for Ideological Dominance in South Asia 4. Confessional Religion and Empire before the Rise of Islam 5. The Rise of Islam and the Early Caliphate, 622--711 A.D. PART TWO. THE ISLAMIC MILLENNIUM, 700--1700 A.D. 6. Imperial Islam, 690--1500 A.D. 7. The Great Islamic Empires of the Early Modern Era (ca. 1500--1700) PART THREE. THE MODERN WORLD 8. Putting Religion in Its Place: Reformers, Kings, and Philosophers Challenge the Church 9. Putting Religion in Its Place: Revolution and Religious Freedom 10. The Contemporary Era: The Worldwide Regime of Meta-Religion Conclusion Suggested Readings Index

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Author Information

James W. Laine is Arnold H. Lowe Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College.

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