Studying Religion

Russell T. McCutcheon is University Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, USA.

Preface to the 2nd Edition. Acknowledgements. Introduction. What is the Study of Religion? Example: ‘…, But Not Specially Defined’. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 1. What’s in a Name? Example: Fruit or Vegetable? Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 2. The History of ‘Religion’. Example: ‘Religion’ on the Colonial Frontier. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 3. The Essentials of Religion. Criticisms. Example: ‘He’s Your Father!’ Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 4. The Functions of Religion. Criticisms. Example: ‘People Started to Come to Her for Healing’. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 5. The Resemblances Among Religions. Criticisms. Example: ‘Not an Easy Task’. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 6. The Public Discourse on Religion. Example: Public Muslim Cemeteries in France. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 7. Religion and the Insider/Outsider Problem. Example: Under the Academic Microscope. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Chapter 8. Religion and Classification. Example: The World Religions Paradigm. Summary of Vocabulary and Scholars. Afterword. The Necessary Lie: Duplicity in the Disciplines by Jonathan Z. Smith. Honesty Is the Best Pedagogy by K. Merinda Simmons. Glossary. Scholars. References. Resources. Index.