ABSTRACT

The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion is a major resource for courses in Religious Studies. It begins by explaining the most important methodological approaches to religion, including psychology, philosophy, anthropology and comparative study, before moving on to explore a wide variety of critical issues, such as gender, science, fundamentalism, ritual, and new religious movements. Written by renowned international specialists, this new edition:

  • includes eight new chapters, including post-structuralism, religion and economics, religion and the environment, religion and popular culture, and sacred space
  • surveys the history of religious studies and the key disciplinary approaches
  • explains why the study of religion is relevant in today’s world
  • highlights contemporary issues such as globalization, diaspora and politics
  • includes annotated reading lists, a glossary and summaries of key points to assist student learning.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|16 pages

Why study religions?

chapter 4|17 pages

Religious history

part |2 pages

Part I Key approaches to the s tudy of religions

chapter 5|18 pages

Theories of religion

chapter 6|18 pages

Theology

chapter 7|14 pages

Philosophy of religion

chapter 8|20 pages

Religious studies

chapter 10|21 pages

Anthropology of religion

chapter 11|17 pages

Psychology of religion

chapter 12|22 pages

Phenomenology of religion

chapter 13|18 pages

Comparative religion

part |2 pages

PART 2 Key topics in the study of rel ig ions

chapter 14|14 pages

Gender

chapter 15|15 pages

Insider/outsider perspectives

chapter 18|17 pages

Secularization

chapter 19|16 pages

Mysticism and spirituality

chapter 20|15 pages

New religious movements

chapter 21|18 pages

Fundamentalism

chapter 22|25 pages

Myth and ritual

chapter 24|15 pages

Hermeneutics

chapter 25|17 pages

Religious pluralism

part |2 pages

PART 3 Rel igions in the modern world

chapter 26|16 pages

Religion and politics

chapter 28|16 pages

Geography, space and the sacred

chapter 29|17 pages

Religion and the environment

chapter 30|17 pages

Religion and science

chapter 31|17 pages

Religion and cognition

chapter 33|23 pages

Religion and diaspora