Ordered Universes: Approaches To The Anthropology Of Religion - Softcover

Klass, Morton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0813312140 ISBN 13: 9780813312149

Publisher: Westview Press, 1995

Synopsis

Ordered Universes An introduction to the anthropological study of religion. It argues that many of the traditional categories and assumptions used in the study of religion reflect ethnocentric perspectives which are no longer considered valid by contemporary anthropologists. Full description

About this title

Synopsis:

This innovative introduction to the anthropological study of religion challenges traditional categories and assumptions, arguing that too many of them reflect ethnocentric perspectives long discarded in contemporary anthropology. Instead, Klass explores the culturally universal institution of religion, working from operational, non-judgmental definitions that avoid the issue of whether a given belief is true. Offering examples from the ethnographic literature, he explores values, witchcraft, shamans, ghosts, revitalization, and other topics. In the final chapters, he considers such issues as the emergence of new religious movements and leaders and the continuing ideological conflict between proponents of scientistic, fundamentalist, and post-rationalist systems of thought. }This innovative introduction to the anthropological study of religion challenges traditional categories and assumptions, arguing that too many of them reflect ethnocentric perspectives long discarded by contemporary anthropologists. The continued use of such terms as supernatural and cult inescapably communicates that what is under study is not as real or true as the beliefs of the observer.

From the Back Cover:

This innovative introduction to the anthropological study of religion challenges traditional categories and assumptions, arguing that too many of them reflect ethnocentric perspectives long discarded in contemporary anthropology.

About this edition

• Publisher: Westview Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0813312140
• ISBN 13: 9780813312149
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192