Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate

by Jack David Eller

This clear and engaging guide introduces students to key areas of the field and shows how to apply an anthropological approach to the study of religion in the contemporary world. Written by an experienced teacher, it covers major traditional topics including definitions, theories and beliefs as well as symbols, myth and ritual. The book also explores important but often overlooked issues such as morality, violence, fundamentalism, secularization, and new religious movements. The chapters all contain lively case studies of religions practiced around the world. The second edition of Introducing Anthropology of Religion contains updated theoretical discussion plus fresh ethnographic examples throughout. In addition to a brand new chapter on vernacular religion, Eller provides a significantly revised chapter on the emerging anthropologies of Christianity and Islam. The book features more material on contemporary societies as well as new coverage of topics such as pilgrimage and paganism. Images, a glossary and questions for discussion are now included and additional resources are provided via a companion website.

Genres: Anthropology, Religion, Sociology, Nonfiction, Science

356 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Prof. David Eller is a cultural anthropologist who has conducted field research among Aboriginal societies in Australia and now teaches anthropology in Denver, Colorado. His recent college textbook Introducing Anthropology of Religion is being hailed as the most significant introduction to the scientific study of religion in a decade. His previous AAP book Natural Atheism showed him to be as good a philosopher as scientist. Now we see he is equally skilled as a linguist and semanticist and can show that for knowledgeable atheists "atheism" means more than the absence of god-beliefs: it is the absence (indeed the rejection) of belief altogether.

Reviews

[Gosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobra książka, nie jest ciężka do przebrnięcia, jednak znajduje się w niej dużo informacji, więc napewno nie na jeden wieczór, albo nawet jeden tydzień, jednak warto przeczytać.
Pokazuje zróżnicowane koncepcje, definicje i wizje religii, jak dochodzi do połączenia obyczajów, skąd może pochodzic religia itp.
Bardzo dużo przykładów, nie ze świata zachodniego, także można się też dużo nauczyć o innych wierzeniach (np. Australia, Brazylia)
Napewno nie jako przerywnik, a jednak książka, której trzeba poświęcić więcej czasu

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating topic! Lots of chewy ideas inside. Eller seems to have a broad knowledge-base, but isn't always as clear as I wanted him to be. Sometimes it needed examples to illustrate, and they weren't there, so I didn't quite understand what he meant. Also, relationship or lack thereof to Cynthia Eller, whom he cites at one point (as the only voice referenced in regards to the Women's spirituality movement), needs to be specified.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the full review, check out my website: Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book was assigned for my religious studies/anthropology course. Provided good definitions and complicates the way we think about religions. I think I had a hard time getting into it because of the way it was assigned as a textbook.