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Religion Is Not Done with You: Or, the Hidden Power of Religion on Race, Maps, Bodies, and Law
A smart, irreverent, and accessible guide to thinking more deeply about how religion permeates and shapes the world around us –and why you need to understand the work it's doing
Religion lurks in the floorboards of our daily lives, whether we want it to or not. A departure from more traditional approaches to "Religion 101," Religion Is Not Done with You gives thought-provoking context to the basics of religious studies by challenging readers to consider the origins of their assumptions about religion and broaden their perspectives on what religion is and does.
Religion scholars and Keeping It 101 podcast duo Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst and Megan Goodwin offer their straightforward, plainspoken overviews of religious studies theory: that religion is what people do (not just beliefs or individual practices); that people are complicated and messy and constantly changing, which means religion is also complicated and messy and constantly changing; that religion shapes what choices you get to make. Choices like what you can learn in school; how your government works; what kind of options you have (or increasingly don’t have) in caring for your own body.
Sure, you have the choice to participate in religion or not. But how you make that choice builds on your entire personal history, your connection to communities and regions, and the systems that surround you. All of which have been shaped by religion.
Religion is systems and structures and assumptions we didn’t create or choose – and, to be honest, we might not even like or agree with. You can feel however you want to feel about religion, but religion is shaping your world whether you like it or not. And if you don’t like how religion is shaping our world? This book might just be your first step in diagnosing the problems and agitating for positive change. Even if you are done with religion, religion is not done with you.
Religion lurks in the floorboards of our daily lives, whether we want it to or not. A departure from more traditional approaches to "Religion 101," Religion Is Not Done with You gives thought-provoking context to the basics of religious studies by challenging readers to consider the origins of their assumptions about religion and broaden their perspectives on what religion is and does.
Religion scholars and Keeping It 101 podcast duo Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst and Megan Goodwin offer their straightforward, plainspoken overviews of religious studies theory: that religion is what people do (not just beliefs or individual practices); that people are complicated and messy and constantly changing, which means religion is also complicated and messy and constantly changing; that religion shapes what choices you get to make. Choices like what you can learn in school; how your government works; what kind of options you have (or increasingly don’t have) in caring for your own body.
Sure, you have the choice to participate in religion or not. But how you make that choice builds on your entire personal history, your connection to communities and regions, and the systems that surround you. All of which have been shaped by religion.
Religion is systems and structures and assumptions we didn’t create or choose – and, to be honest, we might not even like or agree with. You can feel however you want to feel about religion, but religion is shaping your world whether you like it or not. And if you don’t like how religion is shaping our world? This book might just be your first step in diagnosing the problems and agitating for positive change. Even if you are done with religion, religion is not done with you.
- GenresReligionNonfiction
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2024
5 people are currently reading
1672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 26, 2024
This book attempts to educate on the unseen power of religion over race, borders, bodies, and law-like a shadow in the wake of colonialism. In the introduction, it is convincingly argued that secrecy around religious discourse produces an unsafe space for discussing matters surrounding faith. Averting nuanced discussions about faith-one's relation to being religious, spiritual, agnostic, or atheist-is dangerous. This lack of open dialogue fosters misunderstanding, intolerance, and vulnerability to divisive ideologies. I found this idea fascinating, as it speaks to how ignorance and lack of critical conversation around belief systems can lead to societal division, much like a "stranger danger" mentality.
In Chapter 2, the authors tackle the colonial "us vs. them" narrative by showing that dehumanization of other cultures was done precisely to help control others. So while their point stands, I feel the authors miss a broader history of the matter. Most religious systems throughout time, not limited to those of European colonizers, have classified in some way into believers or non-believers. This "us versus them" ethos can be seen in countless religions across the globe and is not particular to the Western colonial project. Additionally, the authors focus quite heavily on white Christian colonialism but do not include other religious conquests, and it feels like a lacuna, especially in a book that purports to discuss the broad implications of religion on race and politics.
One issue I had with the book is the simplification about the India-Pakistan border conflict. The political map of the subcontinent, and in particular the Kashmir issue, was moulded by British colonialism - at least according to the authors, but they do not explain the complexities involved. Jammu and Kashmir, for example, was a princely state, not governed directly by the British. Its future lay in the hands of its ruler, not that of the British Raj. This oversight leaves me wondering what kind of research the authors have undertaken, given their academic credentials.
I did not find much new information in Chapter 3, which deals with the theme religion and race. The analysis was very basic and also didn't try to add anything new to me regarding the subject. Chapter 4, dealing with the interaction between religion and politics, was somewhat unimpressive too. I hoped for something much more rich and nuanced in the way the constitutional promises of "freedom of religion" might interplay with the separation of church and state, while the chapter has sounded repetitive and sparse of truly critical thinking.
The conclusion unfortunately made little of a true closure or deeper insight into the themes presented, It felt like a filler .
In Chapter 2, the authors tackle the colonial "us vs. them" narrative by showing that dehumanization of other cultures was done precisely to help control others. So while their point stands, I feel the authors miss a broader history of the matter. Most religious systems throughout time, not limited to those of European colonizers, have classified in some way into believers or non-believers. This "us versus them" ethos can be seen in countless religions across the globe and is not particular to the Western colonial project. Additionally, the authors focus quite heavily on white Christian colonialism but do not include other religious conquests, and it feels like a lacuna, especially in a book that purports to discuss the broad implications of religion on race and politics.
One issue I had with the book is the simplification about the India-Pakistan border conflict. The political map of the subcontinent, and in particular the Kashmir issue, was moulded by British colonialism - at least according to the authors, but they do not explain the complexities involved. Jammu and Kashmir, for example, was a princely state, not governed directly by the British. Its future lay in the hands of its ruler, not that of the British Raj. This oversight leaves me wondering what kind of research the authors have undertaken, given their academic credentials.
I did not find much new information in Chapter 3, which deals with the theme religion and race. The analysis was very basic and also didn't try to add anything new to me regarding the subject. Chapter 4, dealing with the interaction between religion and politics, was somewhat unimpressive too. I hoped for something much more rich and nuanced in the way the constitutional promises of "freedom of religion" might interplay with the separation of church and state, while the chapter has sounded repetitive and sparse of truly critical thinking.
The conclusion unfortunately made little of a true closure or deeper insight into the themes presented, It felt like a filler .
November 11, 2025
read bits n pieces for a class. authors make good points but drone on & are extremely cringy/corny while also being condescending in a way that i think would absolutely not be helpful in trying to reach the audience who would need this book. very annoying because it could have been a great read had they dialed down the millennial-quirkyness of it
March 16, 2025
I need more people to care about this lol
October 25, 2025
Good info, but the presentation didn't really click for me.
Religion in in everything, even if we don't think it is... Especially when we don't think it is. Religion is such an interwoven element of society that over centuries its has its effects on everything from the obvious things like: Gender Roles, Names, Places and City Layouts, but also far less obvious thing. And it is especially those less obvious instances that underneath it all still influence us all that are worth exploring. Because all of those little things combined shape our attitudes, morals and everyday interaction and even the very way we think.
As such this book was a good source for information on all the ways Religion impacts daily life. Even or especially so for those who are not religious themselves, but..... And this is a bit of a hanging point for me. The presentation especially at the opening of the book really put me off. Disclaimers are fine, limitations are necessary for a good understanding, but I thought it would never end.
So 4 stars for the info, and minus 1 star for the presentation.
Religion in in everything, even if we don't think it is... Especially when we don't think it is. Religion is such an interwoven element of society that over centuries its has its effects on everything from the obvious things like: Gender Roles, Names, Places and City Layouts, but also far less obvious thing. And it is especially those less obvious instances that underneath it all still influence us all that are worth exploring. Because all of those little things combined shape our attitudes, morals and everyday interaction and even the very way we think.
As such this book was a good source for information on all the ways Religion impacts daily life. Even or especially so for those who are not religious themselves, but..... And this is a bit of a hanging point for me. The presentation especially at the opening of the book really put me off. Disclaimers are fine, limitations are necessary for a good understanding, but I thought it would never end.
So 4 stars for the info, and minus 1 star for the presentation.
March 15, 2025
I was expecting more from this book. Pretty shallow and the "hidden power" the title refers to is pretty blindingly obvious. Also, Quebec is not a Canadian "state" and I could've done without the snark at atheists on the closing pages.
April 30, 2025
I really like the concept of this book (learning about how religion actively shapes the world around us, even if we're not personally religious), but I could not stand the writing style. I felt like 25% of the text from each page could've been edited out - it's filled with unnecessary personal references to the authors and unnecessary/unhelpful metaphors that (for me) make it unreadable. For example, an entire chapter is filled with baseball metaphors:
Maybe it would be better as an audiobook? But I just feel like this book is too much about the authors, even though that offers no value to the reader (unless the reader has a personal connection/listens to their podcast), than the ideas themselves.
"Not all rituals are religious, of course! And not all religious practices are rituals. Ritual needn't be formal to be meaningful or worth paying attention to. Ritual can be laden with meaning and yet back of mind for individuals or even communities. Ritual at Fenway might include singing "Sweet Caroline" during the eighth inning or trying to graffiti Pesky's Pole, or - to Ilyse's ongoing chagrin - screaming "Yankees suck" at any time, against any opponent. (Megan would like to point out that the suckage of the Yankees is ontological rather than statistical.) Knowing when and how to clap, sing, or scream "Yankees suck"? Those kinds of rituals create and reinforce culture, build and solidify community- regardless of how any one individual who happens to be in Boston on any given day personally feels about the sport of baseball or the local team itself."
Maybe it would be better as an audiobook? But I just feel like this book is too much about the authors, even though that offers no value to the reader (unless the reader has a personal connection/listens to their podcast), than the ideas themselves.
December 16, 2025
The authors' thesis is solid: Religion is "What We Do" rather than espouse, believe, intentionally practice, etc. Their research is solid. Their observations can be discomforting, but unassailable. The concluding chapter, "Religion Is A Flight Risk," may well be worth the price of the entire volume.
And yet... The "Religion" of the title is quite specifically American (or Anglo-American) Christianity. The American parochialism they descry at some length ironically limits their purview.
"...a productively enraging and often hilarious invitation to take religion seriously" reads a back-cover blurb. I found the book too often mildly annoying; its relentless chattiness comes at the expense of moving an argument forward, and there is nothing that this CISHet retired male academic finds hilarious. The authors describe the book as "a companion volume to our hit podcast, Keeping It 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion." (Spoiler alert: The hit podcast has apparently ceased production.) Chattiness is fun in a podcast but, in this instance at least, doesn't translate well to 156 pages of text plus end matter. Personal anecdotes at the start of each chapter set the stage for the discussion that follows. When the authors finally land on a discussion, they're very compelling. Too often, though, there are pages of sidetracks, reiterations, and verbiage that falls somewhere between a screed and a polemic. "There's probably a good grad-level research paper in here somewhere," I found myself saying throughout the middle chapters.
So... a mixed bag of mostly-positive responses, as I contemplate this book a few weeks after my initial reading. If only they would cut to the chase. If only Beacon Press would get an editor with the old fashioned blue pencil. Compare NPR's late, lamented "Car Talk" series where the "Tappet Brothers" would laugh their way through an hour while dispensing automotive advice. Compare then their newspaper column (if you can find it): The jokes are forced, stale, and utterly lacking in the spirit of their broadcasts. That's what I found in this volume -- forced humor attempting-- who knows why? -- to lighten some very serious material. There is undoubtedly an audience for gabby gossipy semi-confessional stories to shape a serious discussion, but this reader is not among of them.
And yet... The "Religion" of the title is quite specifically American (or Anglo-American) Christianity. The American parochialism they descry at some length ironically limits their purview.
"...a productively enraging and often hilarious invitation to take religion seriously" reads a back-cover blurb. I found the book too often mildly annoying; its relentless chattiness comes at the expense of moving an argument forward, and there is nothing that this CISHet retired male academic finds hilarious. The authors describe the book as "a companion volume to our hit podcast, Keeping It 101: A Killjoy's Introduction to Religion." (Spoiler alert: The hit podcast has apparently ceased production.) Chattiness is fun in a podcast but, in this instance at least, doesn't translate well to 156 pages of text plus end matter. Personal anecdotes at the start of each chapter set the stage for the discussion that follows. When the authors finally land on a discussion, they're very compelling. Too often, though, there are pages of sidetracks, reiterations, and verbiage that falls somewhere between a screed and a polemic. "There's probably a good grad-level research paper in here somewhere," I found myself saying throughout the middle chapters.
So... a mixed bag of mostly-positive responses, as I contemplate this book a few weeks after my initial reading. If only they would cut to the chase. If only Beacon Press would get an editor with the old fashioned blue pencil. Compare NPR's late, lamented "Car Talk" series where the "Tappet Brothers" would laugh their way through an hour while dispensing automotive advice. Compare then their newspaper column (if you can find it): The jokes are forced, stale, and utterly lacking in the spirit of their broadcasts. That's what I found in this volume -- forced humor attempting-- who knows why? -- to lighten some very serious material. There is undoubtedly an audience for gabby gossipy semi-confessional stories to shape a serious discussion, but this reader is not among of them.
May 27, 2025
This book is an excellent resource for introductory religious studies classes or for people who have little to no background in religious studies theory & method. The authors take a conversational tone and discuss the ways that religion is more than a personal, private affair, but is instead a social & political force that shapes our lives - with a focus on the United States.
Using examples ranging from baseball, calendars, maps, medical care, and airports the authors explain & analyze the ways religion shapes all of our lives - even if we think we're done with religion.
There are extensive further reading suggestions and they noted which episodes of their fantastic podcast pair we'll with each chapter (especially useful for college teachers or self-teaching students).
This would be great in full or in part for introduction to religious studies classes and a range of other tires of religious studies classes.
I will be discussing this book with my Religious Studies colleagues and will suggest it as a possible book club type reading event for our students.
Using examples ranging from baseball, calendars, maps, medical care, and airports the authors explain & analyze the ways religion shapes all of our lives - even if we think we're done with religion.
There are extensive further reading suggestions and they noted which episodes of their fantastic podcast pair we'll with each chapter (especially useful for college teachers or self-teaching students).
This would be great in full or in part for introduction to religious studies classes and a range of other tires of religious studies classes.
I will be discussing this book with my Religious Studies colleagues and will suggest it as a possible book club type reading event for our students.
January 27, 2025
This book offers an insightful perspective on how, regardless of one’s personal beliefs, the religious practices and ideologies of others shape the way we view the world today. It highlights how religion influences our lens on life, often subtly, because it is deeply ingrained in societal norms and teachings. The author effectively explores how religion can be wielded as a tool of oppression against certain groups, varying based on the belief system in question. While the book primarily focuses on racism, it also provides great examples that made me reflect on the unconscious biases and discriminatory behaviors I may unknowingly participate in. It was both eye-opening and thought-provoking.
April 17, 2025
Fun to see some of the critical texts I read for my own MA of religious studies transformed into the podcast-style chattiness of the two authors. But for such a short book lots of it felt surprisingly repetitive (how many times can one really read the phrase "white Christian nationalism"?)
If you haven't thought much about the racialized power dynamics of how religion is practiced or how we even think of what religion is, though, it's a good introduction.
If you haven't thought much about the racialized power dynamics of how religion is practiced or how we even think of what religion is, though, it's a good introduction.
December 16, 2024
This is an excellent book – clear and readable, engaging and funny, and well informed. This book was very helpful in helping me think about how religion seeps into all sorts of aspects of life one wouldn't expect and how to make sense for that in critical ways. Religion touches everything and this book helps you understand that.
November 4, 2025
love how accessible and succinct this is, even tho the writing style is a little more casual than i typically go for with academic texts, i think it’s a great starting point for people to grasp the basics on religion and its formation of modernity
January 9, 2025
fantastic intro to the importance of the study of religion & why it matters to pay attention to it !
January 18, 2025
I took my time reading this book. This book has a lot of information and provoking thoughts inside. Great read!
January 20, 2025
Both hilariously funny and deadly serious. A fascinating read for beginners and those who've been thinking religion and power alike.
February 17, 2025
Essential reading. Highly recommend.
September 28, 2025
I think is a great book for beginners and people wanting to get into studying outside their context. Great book recs, easy reading, I would use it to teach 101.
January 27, 2025
A witty, easy-to-understand introduction to religion and how it works in the world. It is a lot of information in < 200 pages, and the perfect companion to the podcast that inspired it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews