Internationally recognized scholars from many parts of the world provide a critical survey of recent developments and achievements in the global field of religious studies. The work follows in the footsteps of two former publications: Classical Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Jacques Waardenburg (1973), and Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Frank Whaling (1984/85). New Approaches to the Study of Religion completes the survey of the comparative study of religion in the twentieth century by focussing on the past two decades. Many of the chapters, however, are also pathbreaking and point the way to future approaches. Originally published in 2004, New Approaches are now available as paperback for classroom use. Also available as a 2 volume set.

Internationally recognized scholars from many parts of the world provide a critical survey of recent developments and achievements in the global field of religious studies. The work follows in the footsteps of two former publications: Classical Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Jacques Waardenburg (1973), and Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Frank Whaling (1984/85). New Approaches to the Study of Religion completes the survey of the comparative study of religion in the twentieth century by focussing on the past two decades. Many of the chapters, however, are also pathbreaking and point the way to future approaches. Originally published in 2004, New Approaches are now available as paperback for classroom use. Also available as a 2 volume set.

Internationally recognized scholars from many parts of the world provide a critical survey of recent developments and achievements in the global field of religious studies. The work follows in the footsteps of two former publications: Classical Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Jacques Waardenburg (1973), and Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Frank Whaling (1984/85). New Approaches to the Study of Religion completes the survey of the comparative study of religion in the twentieth century by focussing on the past two decades. Many of the chapters, however, are also pathbreaking and point the way to future approaches. Key features - Sequel to two established former volumes - Volume I and II can be used (and purchased) separately - Separate indexes for each volume

Internationally recognized scholars from many parts of the world provide a critical survey of recent developments and achievements in the global field of religious studies. The work follows in the footsteps of two former publications: Classical Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Jacques Waardenburg (1973), and Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Frank Whaling (1984/85). New Approaches to the Study of Religion completes the survey of the comparative study of religion in the twentieth century by focussing on the past two decades. Many of the chapters, however, are also pathbreaking and point the way to future approaches.

Comparative Religion is deeply rooted in historical-philological studies, but since the inception of the discipline in the late nineteenth century, a continual development has taken place. Since that time, the discipline has moved into many different areas of the social, humanistic, psychological and biological sciences, and debates on theory and method are as intense as ever. As scholars of religion get to grips with some aspects of the phenomenon in question, new problems arise, and new challenges must be met. At the same time, however, the virtues of the past should not be forgotten, and a double orientation, back and forth, becomes necessary. Rather than pursuing a systematic discussion of how to go about such problems, this volume celebrates the diversity and multi-methodological approaches in comparative religion by including empirical, as well as theoretical, approaches.The authors, among whom are many of the world's leading scholars, have been asked to contribute essays on the current state of comparative religion, and thanks to their efforts the reader is offered a pathway to exciting, but quite diverse, examples of the discipline, from the well-known to the most recent academic frontiers.

Antes zeichnet die wichtigsten Etappen des religiosen Denkens der Menschheit nach, beginnend mit den ersten Spuren von Religion in der Vorgeschichte uber die fruhen Kulturen in Asien, Afrika, Europa und Alt-Amerika und die traditionellen Stammes- und Naturreligionen in Asien, Ozeanien, Australien und Afrika bis hin zu den Hochreligionen (darunter u.a. Hinduismus, Buddhismus, Jainismus, Zoroastrismus/Parsismus, Judentum, Christentum, Islam). Ein eigenes Kapitel bilden neuere religiose Bewegungen, darunter auch die Sikh- und die Bahai-Religion. Ausfuhrungen uber diffuse Religion (z.B. Gnosis, Esoterik, Astrologie) sowie Religion und Moderne schliessen den Band ab. Es wird deutlich, wie unterschiedlich die Gottes-, Welt- und Menschenbilder sind, die sich im Laufe der Religionsgeschichte entwickelt haben.Die "Theologische Wissenschaft" erfasst als Sammelwerk fur Theologen und Religionspadagogen in Studium und Beruf das Grundlagenwissen aller Gebiete gegenwartiger evangelischer Theologie. In seiner Gesamtanlage und in der Methode der Einzeldarstellungen verwirklicht das Werk Erkenntnisse und Vorschlage der Diskussion zur Reform der theologischen Ausbildung.