| Religion: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters Contributor(s): Smith, Christian (Author) |
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ISBN: 0691191646 ISBN-13: 9780691191645 Publisher: Princeton University Press OUR PRICE: $24.65 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: March 2019 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Theology - Social Science | Sociology Of Religion - Philosophy | Religious |
| Dewey: 200 |
| Physical Information: 0.9" H x 6" W x 9.2" (1.00 lbs) 296 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: A groundbreaking new theory of religion Religion remains an important influence in the world today, yet the social sciences are still not adequately equipped to understand and explain it. This book advances an innovative theory of religion that goes beyond the problematic theoretical paradigms of the past. Drawing on the philosophy of critical realism and personalist social theory, Christian Smith explores why humans are religious in the first place-uniquely so as a species-and offers an account of secularization and religious innovation and persistence that breaks the logjam in which religious scholarship has been stuck for so long. Certain to stimulate debate and inspire promising new avenues of scholarship, Religion features a wealth of illustrations and examples that help to make its concepts accessible to readers. This superbly written book brings sound theoretical thinking to a perennially thorny subject, and a new vitality and focus to its study. |