This volume takes advantage of the latest sociological perspectives on sect formation and development and applies them to the study of Early Judaism, providing fresh insights on early Jewish sectarianism. The studies in this volume lay the groundwork for further application of sociological models in the study of ancient sects and are a timely contribution to social-scientific research in biblical studies, an increasingly important discipline in the field. This book presents eight new and path-breaking studies which explore the phenomenon of sects in ancient Judaism and the history of sociological theorizing of sectarian movements. Contributors draw on a full range of classical and contemporary sources in the sociology religion including the work of Max Weber, Ernest Troeltsch, Bryan Wilson, Stark and Bainbridge, Mary Douglas.

Represents the first attempt to map aspects of the long history of the Bible and biblical studies in India for a global audience of scholars and students.

This volume takes advantage of the latest sociological perspectives on sect formation and development and applies them to the study of Early Judaism, providing fresh insights on early Jewish sectarianism. The studies in this volume lay the groundwork for further application of sociological models in the study of ancient sects and are a timely contribution to social-scientific research in biblical studies, an increasingly important discipline in the field. This book presents eight new and path-breaking studies which explore the phenomenon of sects in ancient Judaism and the history of sociological theorizing of sectarian movements. Contributors draw on a full range of classical and contemporary sources in the sociology religion including the work of Max Weber, Ernest Troeltsch, Bryan Wilson, Stark and Bainbridge, Mary Douglas.

The papers in this anthology represent the proceedings of the Anthropology and the Bible session from the European Association of Biblical Studies Annual Meeting held in Lincoln, UK (July 2009). The main aim of the session is to foster critical uses of social anthropology for reading biblical scholarship and ancient Near Eastern studies related to the Bible. The papers of this volume reflect all these perspectives and stand as a critical renewal of the uses of anthropology and sociology in biblical scholarship in distinction to social-science approaches.