Anthropology and qualitative sociology bring a unique perspective to the study of religion that provides a window into the inner lives of people living in religious communities around the world. In this episode, we will cover the main insights provided by the anthropology of religion and survey its approach to studying the relationship between religious beliefs and institutions and the social, cultural, and environmental systems in which those beliefs and institutions exist.
The host, Dr. Alexander K. Smith, holds an MA from Oxford University and a PhD in the anthropology of Tibet and the Himalayas from the University of Paris, France.
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Works cited:
Bandank, Andreas (ed). 2021. "The Social Life of Prayer: Anthropological Engagement with Christian Practice". Routledge.
Headley, Stephen C. 2018. "The Hidden Ear of God". Angelico Press.
Lemons, J. Derrick. 2018. "Theologically Engaged Prayer". Oxford University Press.
Luhrmann, T. M. 2012. "When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God". Knopf.
Some introductory readings:
Crapo, Richley. 2002. "Anthropology of Religion: The Unity and Diversity of Religion". McGraw-Hill. (This is a very approachable introductory text that focuses of theory and history rather than the 'case-driven' approach that you'll find in many other introductory texts. An excellent entry-point into the field.)
Evans-Pritchard, E. E. 1937. "Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic Among the Azande". Oxford University Press. (Despite it's age, this is a classic -- and core text in the field -- that you will find referenced constantly in the anthropology of religion. A must read if you want to understand the intellectual history of the field.)
Malefijt, Annemarie de Waal. 1989. "Religion and Culture: An Introduction to Anthropology of Religion". Waveland. (One of my introductions to to the field that, despite being a bit dated, holds up reasonably well. A good entry-point to the field.)
Stein, Rebecca L. and Stein, Philip L. 2007. "The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft". Pearson. (Maybe the best textbook on the subject that is currently in circulation. As with most textbooks, it is a bit shallow, but is student-friendly and well-organized, which makes it a good tool for educators and people completely new to the field.)
[I'm going to post some references to university programs soon!]
0:00 Defining the anthropology of religion
0:33 Perspective and goals of research
1:47 The problem of defining religion
2:35 An example of modern anthropological research on religion
3:51 Recommendations and Conclusion
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