Cultural Approaches to Studying Religion

This is the first book to provide an introduction to contemporary cultural approaches to the study of religion. This book makes sophisticated ideas accessible at an introductory level, and examines the analytic tools of scholars in religious studies, as well as in related disciplines that have shaped the field including anthropology, history, literature, and critical studies in race, sexuality, and gender.

Each chapter is written by a leading scholar and includes:

- the biographical and historical context of each theorist
- their approaches and key writings
- analysis and evaluation of each theory
- suggested further reading.

Part One: Comparative Approaches considers how major features such as taboo, texts, myths and ritual work across religious traditions by exploring the work of Mary Douglas, Phyllis Trible, Wendy Doniger and Catherine Bell.

Part Two: Examining Particularities analyzes the comparative approach through the work of Alice Walker, Charles Long and Caroline Walker Bynum, who all suggest that the specifics of race, body, place and time must be considered.

Part Three: Expanding Boundaries examines Gloria Anzald�a's language of religion, as well as the work of Judith Butler on performative, queer theories of religion, and concludes with Saba Mahmood, whose work considers postcolonial religious encounters, secularism, and the relationship between "East" and "West."

Reflecting the cultural turn and challenging the existing canon, this is the anthology instructors have been waiting for.

For primary texts by the theorists discussed, please consult The Bloomsbury Reader in Cultural Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Sarah J. Bloesch and Meredith Minister.

Aceasta este prima carte care ofera o introducere in abordarile culturale contemporane ale studiului religiei. Aceasta carte face ca ideile sofisticate sa fie accesibile la un nivel introductiv si examineaza instrumentele analitice ale carturarilor din studiile religioase, precum si din disciplinele conexe care au modelat domeniul, inclusiv antropologia, istoria, literatura si studiile critice in rasa, sexualitate si gen. Fiecare capitol este scris de un savant de varf si include: - contextul biografic si istoric al fiecarui teoretician - abordarile si scrierile cheie ale acestora - analiza si evaluarea fiecarei teorii - lectura suplimentara sugerata. tabu, texte, mituri si lucrari rituale de-a lungul traditiilor religioase, explorand opera lui Mary Douglas, Phyllis Trible, Wendy Doniger si Catherine Bell. Partea a doua: examinarea particularitatilor analizeaza abordarea comparativa prin lucrarile lui Alice Walker, Charles Long si Caroline Walker Bynum , care toti sugereaza ca trebuie luate in considerare specificul rasei, corpului, locului si timpului. Partea a treia: Extinderea limitelor examineaza limba de religie a Gloriei Anzalda, precum si lucrarea lui Judith Butler despre teoriile performative, ciudate ale religiei si incheie cu Saba Mahmood, a carui lucrare are in vedere intalnirile religioase postcoloniale, laicitatea si relatia dintre „Est” si „Vest” "Reflectand intoarcerea culturala si provocand canonul existent, instructorii de antologie au asteptat-o. Pentru textele primare ale teoreticienilor discutati, va rugam sa consultati The Bloomsbury Reader in Cultural Approaches to the Study of Religion, editat de Sarah J.