The essays collected together in Critics Not Caretakers argue that
the study of religion must be rethought as an ordinary aspect of
social, historical existence, a stance that makes the scholar of
religion a critic of cultural and historical practices rather than
a caretaker of religious tradition or a font of timeless wisdom and
deep meaning. The book begins with several essays that outline the
basis of an alternative, socio-rhetorical approach to studying
religion, before moving on to a series of discrete dispatches from
the ongoing theory wars, each of which uses the work of such
writers as Karen Armstrong, Walter Burkert, Benson Saler, and Jacob
Neusner as a point of entry into wider theoretical issues of
importance to the field’s future. The author then examines the
socio-political role of this brand of critical scholarship—a role
that differs dramatically from the type of sympathetic caretaking
generally associated with scholars of religion who feel compelled
to "go public." Concluding the work is a consideration of how
scholars as teachers can address issues of theory, method, and
critical thinking in a variety of undergraduate classrooms—the
location where they have always been publicly accountable
intellectuals. The new edition of this still read and, for some,
controversial book preserves much of the original essays but
includes new introductory commentaries across all of the chapters
to demonstrate how little the field has changed since the volume
was first published in 2001. Accordingly, the book continues to
provide a viable alternative for those wanting to take a more
critical approach to the study of religion.
General
Imprint: |
Taylor & Francis
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
November 2023 |
First published: |
2024 |
Authors: |
Russell T. McCutcheon
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 156mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
400 |
Edition: |
2nd edition |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-03-246792-4 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-03-246792-4 |
Barcode: |
9781032467924 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!