What is Religion? - Softcover

Jensen, Jeppe Sinding

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844657590 ISBN 13: 9781844657599

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

Religious belief is one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous characteristics of human society. Religion has shadowed and illuminated human lives since primitive times, shaping the world views of cultures from isolated tribes to vast empires. Starting from the premise that religion is a concept which can be analysed and compared across time and cultures, 'What is Religion?' brings the most up-to-date scholarship to bear on humankind's most enduring creation. The book opens with a brief history of the idea of religion, then divides the study of religion into four essential topics - types, representations, practices, and institutions - and concludes with a final, eye-opening chapter on religion today. Packed with case studies from a wide range of religions, past and present, 'What is Religion?' offers a very current, comprehensive, yet intellectually challenging overview of the history, theories, practices, and study of religion. Accessible, wide-ranging, engaging, and short, 'What is Religion?' is written primarily for undergraduate students in the study of religion, but it will also be invaluable for students of anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, and theology as well as anyone interested in how and why humans came and continue to be religious.

About this title

Review:

'This book is a mind changer. It firmly drops religion into the human sphere. At the centre of religions we may well find beliefs and practices related to gods and other superhuman agents. But the gods are products of the human imagination, hence a human phenomenon. Drawing on a wide range of historical theoretical traditions and using a broad range of examples of religious human doings, Jensen has written a learned, yet highly readable book that should go to the head of the must read line for all students of religion. He might just convince the reader that religion, though complex and important, is naturally explainable.' --Willi Braun, University of Alberta, Canada

'An unrivalled introduction to studying human beliefs and behaviours identified as religions, asking what kind of ideas or acts they are, how they arose and what relevance they have today.' --Graham Harvey, The Open University, UK

'A stimulating gateway to the study of religion that at the same time advances the field of religious studies as a secular endeavor. It does so by garnering and integrating rich interpretive resources from across the contemporary landscape of human sciences. An intellectual feast to which students are invited.' --William E. Paden, University of Vermont

About the Author:

Jeppe Sinding Jensen is Reader in the Department for Culture and Society, Faculty of Arts, and a research associate at MINDLab, both Aarhus University, Denmark. Trained in Arabic and Islamic culture, history of religions, and philosophy, his work now focuses on theory and method in the study of religion.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1844657590
• ISBN 13: 9781844657599
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200