Introducing Anthropology of Religion

by Jack David Eller

This lively and readable survey introduces students to key areas of the field and shows how to apply an anthropological approach to the study of contemporary world religions. Written by an experienced teacher, it covers all of the traditional topics of anthropology of religion, including definitions and theories, beliefs, symbols and language, and ritual and myth, and combines analytic and conceptual discussion with up-to-date ethnography and theory. Eller includes copious examples from religions around the world – both familiar and unfamiliar – and two mini-case studies in each chapter. He also explores classic and contemporary anthropological contributions to important but often overlooked issues such as violence and fundamentalism, morality, secularization, religion in America, and new religious movements. Introducing Anthropology of Religion demonstrates that anthropology is both relevant and essential for understanding the world we inhabit today.

Genres: Anthropology, Religion, Sociology, Nonfiction, Science

352 pages, Hardcover

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.