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Introduction to Religious Studies

Introduction to Religious Studies cover

Introduction to Religious Studies

Description

In Introduction to Religious Studies, Harvey J. Sindima provides an unconventional approach to the study of world religions. Often, books and courses on religious studies focus on the major world religions. This approach, however, frequently ignores other religious experiences, such as those of various African groups as well as the indigenous people of the Americas and Australia. These less widespread religions are commonly described in pejorative terms such as "primitive religions" or "non-literate religions." Focusing solely on well-known religions is an approach that impoverishes religious studies and deprives students of the enormous wealth of religious knowledge of the world. Introduction to Religious Studies pulls together the diverse religious experience of Africans, Native Americans, and the indigenous peoples of Australia in order to provide a comprehensive introduction to the study of religion and broaden the horizons of religious studies students. Under each theme or topic, examples are drawn from religions of salvation as well as African and Native American religious traditions. This book provides students with a deep, wide, and very rich introduction to religious studies.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 1. Why Study Religion
Chapter 3 2. What is Religion
Chapter 4 3. The Elements of Religion
Chapter 5 4. Celebration and Divination
Chapter 6 5. Scripture
Chapter 7 6. Religions Functionaries
Chapter 8 7. Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft
Chapter 9 8. Sacred Time, Objects, and Space
Chapter 10 9. Living Within the Sacred
Chapter 11 Works Cited
Chapter 12 Index

Product details

Published Jul 10 2012
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Pages 1
ISBN 9780761882565
Imprint University Press of America
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Harvey J. Sindima

Harvey J. Sindima is a professor of philosophy and…

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