Contemporary Western Ethnography and the Definition of Religion (Hardcover)

Is a person sitting next to a grave of a loved one, talking to the deceased person, engaging in a religious act? Many traditional definitions of religion would probably say no. However, the research that forms the basis of this book suggests that such activity is very widespread in contemporary Britain and the author aims to argue that it is probably much more typical of a fundamental religious act than much of what happens in churches, synagogues or mosques. Beginning with the definitions of religion provided by a number of anthropologists and sociologists this book claims that the large majority of these definitions have been influenced by Christian thinking, so leading to definitions that stress the systematic nature of religion, the importance of the transcendental and the transformative activity of religion. Through a detailed exploration of a number of ethnographic studies of religious activity in various parts of England, these aspects of traditional definitions are challenged. Martin Stringer argues, borrowing Durkheim's language, that the most elementary form of religious life in many Western societies today, and by implication in many other societies around the world, is situational, mundane and concerned with helping people to cope with their day to day lives.

General

Imprint:	Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Continuum Advances in Religious Studies
Release date:	2008
First published:	March 2008
Authors:	Martin D. Stringer
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 19mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	142
ISBN-13:	978-0-8264-9978-3
Languages:	English
Subtitles:	English
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Anthropology > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious life & practice > General Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Human biology & related topics > Biological anthropology > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious life & practice > General
LSN:	0-8264-9978-3
Barcode:	9780826499783

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