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List of Contributors. <p>Introduction: Robert A. Segal.</p> <p><b>Part I: Approaches</b>.</p> <p>1. Anthropology of Religion: Fiona Bowie(University of Bristol).</p> <p>2. The Comparative Method: Paul Roscoe(University of Maine).</p> <p>3. An Economics of Religion: Rodney Stark (University of Washington).</p> <p>4. Literature and Religion: Stephen Prickett (Baylor University).</p> <p>5. Phenomenology of Religion: Thomas Ryba (Purdue University).</p> <p>6. Philosophy of Religion: Charles Taliaferro (St Olaf College).</p> <p>7. Psychology of Religion: Roderick Main (University of Essex).</p> <p>8. Sociology of Religion: Grace Davie (University of Exeter).</p> <p>9. Theology: Ian Markham (Hartford Seminary).</p> <p><b>Part II: Topics</b>.</p> <p>10. Body: Richard H. Roberts (Stirling University).</p> <p>11. Death and Afterlife: Douglas J. Davies (University of Durham).</p> <p>12. Ethics: G. Scott Davis (University of Richmond).</p> <p>13. Fundamentalism: Henry Munson (University of Maine).</p> <p>14. Heaven and Hell: Jeffrey Burton Russell (University of California at Santa Barbara).</p> <p>15. Holy Men/Holy Women: Lawrence S. Cunningham (University of Notre Dame).</p> <p>16. Magic: Gustavo Benavides (Villanova University).</p> <p>17. Modernity and Postmodernity: Colin Campbell (University of York).</p> <p>18. Mysticism: Jeffrey J. Kripal (Rice University).</p> <p>19. Myth: Robert A. Segal (University of Aberdeen).</p> <p>20. Nationalism and Religion: Mark Juergensmeyer (University of California at Santa Barbara).</p> <p>21. New Religious Movements: Lorne L. Dawson (University of Waterloo).</p> <p>22. Pilgrimage: Simon Coleman (University of Durham).</p> <p>23. Ritual: Catherine Bell (Santa Clara University).</p> <p>24. Secularization: Steve Bruce (University of Aberdeen).</p> <p>Consolidated Bibliography.</p> <p>Index</p>

"Its value for students of religion is that it embraces a comparative approach to the discipline of religious studies, presenting a diversity of perspectives without favoring one over the other, while at the same time raising critical questions about the limits of each approach." (<i>Teaching Theology and Religion</i>, July 2010)<br /> <br /> “Today’s world is in crying need of an understanding of ‘religion’, as well as specific religious traditions. This volume, expertly edited and introduced by Segal, admirably fulfills this need with a series of essays that combine clarity and accessibility with nuance and balance … The 25 essays in this collection are uniformly of high quality, each with a helpful bibliography that supplements the volume bibliography… this work will command a wide audience, ranging from the general public to religious studies specialists. Highly recommended; all libraries; all levels.”<br /> <i>CHOICE</i> <!--end--><br /> <p>“This is an excellent volume of papers about the study of religion both in conception and execution … Robert Segal has done a marvelous job in editing the volume and providing a bibliography and index … a very useful, well constructed and interesting book that should be widely read and used on courses.” <i>British Association for the Study of Religions Bulletin</i></p> <p> </p> <p>"A useful addition to the growing collection of compendia on theory and method ... a solid, provocative, and largely productive set of essays." <i>Journal of Contemporary Religion</i></p> <p>“This is a work that can be used in many ways – as a companion to the study of religion, as a commentary on the place of the study of religion in a largely secular and cross-cultural world, as a guide to various interdisciplinary approaches to the study of religion, as an insight into key writers in the modern historiography of the subject, as a snapshot of different topics, and as a reference work to some of the key figures. These uses will make the book suitable for different types of library and research setting … These are not essays assembled in a hit-and-miss way simply to earn a fast buck and satisfy research assessment exercise criteria: they are relevant and part of a coherent body of work here. It puts the case (if that is necessary) that the study of religion is now a discipline in its own right.” <i>Reference Reviews<br /> </i></p>

<b>Robert A. Segal</b> is Sixth Century Chair in Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. His previous publications include <i>Joseph Campbell: An Introduction</i> (1987), <i>Theorizing about Myth</i> (1999), <i>The Myth and Ritual Theory</i> (ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 1998), <i>Hero Myths: A Reader</i> (ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2000), and <i>Myth: A Very Short Introduction</i> (2004).

This <i>Companion</i> offers the most comprehensive survey to-date of the study of religion. Featuring a team of international contributors, and edited by one of the most widely respected scholars in the field, <i>The Blackwell Companion to the Study of Religion</i> provides a truly interdisciplinary and authoritative guide to its subject. The volume: <br /> <ul> <li style="list-style: none"><br /> </li> <li>Examines the main approaches to the study of religion: anthropological, economic, literary, philosophical, psychological, sociological, and theological;<br /> </li> <li>Covers a range of specific topics, such as the body, fundamentalism, magic, and new religious movements;<br /> </li> <li>Reviews, within each chapter, the key issues and debates;<br /> </li> <li>Provides a bibliographical guide to the main literature on each subject.</li> </ul> <br /> <p>The quality and the coverage ensure that this <i>Companion</i> will be the definitive reference work for students and scholars alike.</p>

“Today’s world is in crying need of an understanding of ‘religion’, as well as specific religious traditions. This volume, expertly edited and introduced by Segal, admirably fulfills this need with a series of essays that combine clarity and accessibility with nuance and balance … The 25 essays in this collection are uniformly of high quality, each with a helpful bibliography that supplements the volume bibliography… this work will command a wide audience, ranging from the general public to religious studies specialists. Highly recommended; all libraries; all levels.”<br /> <i>CHOICE</i> <!--end--><br /> <p>“This is an excellent volume of papers about the study of religion both in conception and execution … Robert Segal has done a marvelous job in editing the volume and providing a bibliography and index … a very useful, well constructed and interesting book that should be widely read and used on courses.” <i>British Association for the Study of Religions Bulletin</i><br /> </p> <p><br /> </p> <p>"A useful addition to the growing collection of compendia on theory and method ... a solid, provocative, and largely productive set of essays." <i>Journal of Contemporary Religion</i><br /> </p> <p>“This is a work that can be used in many ways – as a companion to the study of religion, as a commentary on the place of the study of religion in a largely secular and cross-cultural world, as a guide to various interdisciplinary approaches to the study of religion, as an insight into key writers in the modern historiography of the subject, as a snapshot of different topics, and as a reference work to some of the key figures. These uses will make the book suitable for different types of library and research setting … These are not essays assembled in a hit-and-miss way simply to earn a fast buck and satisfy research assessment exercise criteria: they are relevant and part of a coherent body of work here. It puts the case (if that is necessary) that the study of religion is now a discipline in its own right.” <i>Reference Reviews<br /> </i></p>

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