Changing Religious Worlds: The Meaning and End of Mircea Eliade

by Bryan S. Rennie (Editor)

Changing Religious Worlds measures the nature and significance of Mircea Eliade's contribution to the understanding and academic study of religion in North America today. It includes the perspectives of the continent's leading experts on Eliade and his thought, both critical and supportive. It also includes previously unpublished fiction and journal entries from Eliade himself. The book ponders whether it is time to leave Eliade behind or whether we can yet learn from either his insights or his errors, and whether the changing world has left Eliade behind or whether it is finally catching up with him. Particular consideration is given to whether Eliade makes any lasting contribution to our ability to deal with the changing face of religion and the ability to "change over" into the religious world of the other and to see through the eyes of the other.

Contributors include Douglas Allen, Wendell Charles Beane, David Cave, Roger Corless, Norman Girardot, Alan Larsen, Russell McCutcheon, Tim Murphy, Carl Olson, William Paden, Rachela Permenter, Mac Linscott Ricketts, and Robert Segal.

330 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went slightly more into depth into the philosophical details regarding Eliade's writings with various views on whether Eliade could fit into the postmodernist or theological camp, or if he was neither. I personally found Robert A. Segal's chapter most thought-provoking as it discussed whether or not modern narratives could really be said to constitute myth in a real sense. I also enjoyed David Cave on whether or not virtue could factor into Eliade's 'system', which felt like a unique approach.