Introductory Readings in Religious Studies

Introductory Readings in Religious Studies: Methods, Classifications, and Criticism provides students with a diverse and enlightening collection of readings to familiarize them with the academic study of religion. The anthology includes contemporary writings from authors in the field, as well as articles highlighting key historical figures, including Karl Marx, John Dewey, Jacques Maritain, and more. The text features a unique focus on issues and trends in the field, such as religion and its intersection with popular culture, method in religious studies, and religion ethics and politics.

The text is organized into five units. Unit I explores scholarly attempts to define religion and make distinctions between the terms “religion,” “religious,” and “spiritual.” Unit II introduces students to the methodologies and disciplines deployed in the study of religion. In Unit III, the readings examine various aspects of religion, including typological classifications such as myth, symbol, ritual, belief, and ethics and morality. Unit IV explores how religious experience and expression proliferate the social world and become part of culture. The final unit centers on the criticism of religion from various perspectives.

Underscoring the vitality of contemporary discourse in the field, Introductory Readings in Religious Studies is an ideal textbook for foundational courses in the discipline.