ABSTRACT

How do you study religion and society? In this fascinating book, some of the most famous names in the field explain how they go about their everyday work of studying religions in the field. They explain how the ideas for their projects and books have come together, how their understanding of religion has changed over the years, and how their own beliefs have affected their work. They also comment on the changing nature of the field, the ideas which they regard as most important, and those which have not stood the test of time. Lastly they offer advice to young scholars, and suggest what needs to be done to enable the field to grow and develop further.

chapter |13 pages

1 Introduction

On sociological self-reflection

chapter |16 pages

4 Doing Sociology

Confessions of a professional stranger

chapter |12 pages

5 Constructing Religion

Serendipity and skepticism

chapter |14 pages

6 Straddling Boundaries

Disciplines, theories, methods, and continents

chapter |13 pages

7 Work And Adventure

From poetry to the sociology of religion

chapter |12 pages

10 Thinking Sociologically About Religion

Discerning and explaining pattern

chapter |11 pages

11 Hurdling Over Borders

Reflections on my intellectual trajectory

chapter |12 pages

12 The Empiricist's Tale

Academic wanderlust and the comparative imperative

chapter |12 pages

14 Engaged Faith

My own and that of others

chapter |11 pages

15 Studying Protestantism In A Catholic And Secular Context

Lessons for a comparative sociology of religion

chapter |12 pages

16 Side Roads And Detours

A narrative reconstruction about studying religion