Russell T. McCutcheon Libri

In this new work, Russell McCutcheon critiques traditional scholarship on religion, targeting several interrelated aspects. He focuses on the History of Religions as a discipline, the contributions of Mircea Eliade, recent studies on Eliade's life and politics, contemporary world religion textbooks, and the notion that "religion" is a sui generis phenomenon. McCutcheon analyzes the ideological foundations of the sui generis argument, revealing its role in shaping the field's object of study into something ahistoric, apolitical, fetishized, and sacrosanct. He argues that this perspective has fostered the creation of departments, jobs, and publication avenues for those who accept this problematic construction, resulting in a disciplinary ethos marked by theoretical naivete and a corresponding body of scholarship. Examining introductory comparative religion textbooks, he finds they uniformly embrace the sui generis viewpoint, which, while popular among intended audiences, undermines critical perspectives and capacities. Furthermore, he asserts that treating religion as an ahistorical category contributes to broader systems of political domination and cultural imperialism.

A lively critique of the study of religion in the modern academy, one that makes the scholar of religion a cultural critic rather than a caretaker of a religious tradition or a guru dispensing timeless wisdom.

Widely used as a primer, a text and a provocation to critical thinking, 'Studying Religion' aims to develop students' skills. The book clearly explains the methods and theories employed in the study of religion. Essays are offered on a range of topics: from the history and functions of religion to public discourse on religion and the classification of religions. The works of key scholars - from Karl Marx, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Rudolf Otto to Mircea Eliade, James G. Frazer, and Sigmund Freud - are analysed and explored. 'Studying Religion' represents a shift away from the traditional focus of describing the exotic or curious religious 'Other' to an examination of how religious behaviours and institutions are studied. The book will be invaluable to students of religious studies.

The book argues for a revitalized approach to the study of religion, asserting that the phenomenology of religion remains influential despite claims of its decline. Drawing on the experiences of the University of Alabama's Religious Studies Department, it offers practical strategies for scholars to reframe their teaching and research. By viewing religion as a reflection of universal social elements rather than a unique experience, the authors advocate for a perspective that enhances interdisciplinary dialogue within the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Religion in Five Minutes provides an accessible and lively introduction to the questions about religion and religious behaviour that interest most of us, whether or not we personally identify with - or practice - a religion. Suitable for beginning students and the general reader, the book offers more than 60 brief essays on a wide range of fascinating questions about religion and its study, such as: How did religion start? What religion is the oldest? Who are the Nones? Why do women seem to play lesser roles in many religions? What's the difference between a religion and a cult? Is Europe less religious than North America? Is Buddhism a philosophy? How do we study religions of groups who no longer exist? Each essay is written by a leading authority and offers succinct, insightful answers along with suggestions for further reading, making the book an ideal starting point for classroom use or personal browsing.

Widely used as a primer, a class text, or just a provocation to critical thinking, Studying Religion clearly explains the methods and theories employed in the academic study of religion by tackling the problem of how we define religion. Written for newcomers to the field, its chapters explore the three main ways in which religion is defined and, along the way, also considers a range of related topics, from the history and functions of religion to public discourse on religion, religion in the courts, and the classification of religions. The works of classic and contemporary scholars-from Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud to Bruce Lincoln and Wendy Doniger-are analyzed and explored in its readable chapters and detailed supporting materials. Studying Religion represents a shift away from the traditional world religions approach and, instead, invites readers to consider how they divide up, name, and come to know the world around them. Thoroughly revised throughout, this second edition now includes a significantly expanded glossary, summaries of technical terms and global case studies at the end of each chapter, and additional biographies of key scholars mentioned. This book will be invaluable to all students of religious studies-whether in the introductory class or as an example of an alternative way of approaching the field.