Anthropology of religion
How does anthropology of religion relate to different factors that drive religious groups in antiquity? I’m looking at Christianity?
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How does it? What have you read in an effort to research this? Seems as though you will need to examine multiple groups to identify possible factors before reaching conclusions specific to Christianity.
For God and For Neighbor
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Finding out whether a religion is true or wrong is not the focus of religious anthropology. In my opinion, they are more concerned with the way religious concepts are expressed. Religion includes immaterial elements like moral principles and abstract concepts. I was taught that an anthropologist will frequently spend time immersing themselves in a foreign culture for a period of time, usually years, while learning the language as necessary. Finding out whether a religion is true or false is not a concern for religious anthropologists. They are more interested in how religion shapes their identities in relation to their surroundings.
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Again, you're asking a question is an odd way - Anthropology is separate from history of religion but insights gained from anthropology are applied to the history of religion. Have you read these basic texts:
- The Sociology of Religon by Max Weber? related excerpts in Logos
- The World Religions by Houston Smith? Not in Logos
- Varieties of Religious Experience by william James?
- The Golden Bough by James Frazer? (second tier) excerpts in Logos
- Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill (in Logos)
These are old but still absolutely foundational to understanding the phenomena of religion Then the series The Anthropology of Christianity can provide concrete examples of anthropological studies of current Christianity
I looked for titles on the history of/origins of religion and didn't see authors that I was familiar with although I saw many books I would not trust. What comes to mind are either academic journals or years' worth of reading so I'd direct you to exactly the same
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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Check the public library for the book - "Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion" by Michael Banton. I found that in my public library.
My personal slant on guys that write these kinds of books "generally" don't know what "religion" is.... and write their books from a "general consensuses" of worlds view of religion, because they are writing to sell their book. [8-|]
xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".
Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!
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xnman said:
My personal slant on guys that write these kinds of books "generally" don't know what "religion" is.... and write their books from a "general consensuses" of worlds view of religion, because they are writing to sell their book.
Sorry you don't appreciate the work of those working in religious studies - history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, history of ideas. But your lack of appreciation is no excuse for insulting the authors.
FYI. In Graduate school one can quickly pick out which specialties have students out for fame and money and which have students there for love of the subject - the latter don't expect to find jobs in their field so feel no need to best their fellow students; instead, they share to the benefit of all. Most religious studies programs fall into the no jobs/love subject category.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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Not a question of appreciation, just a matter of free speech. Seems like free speech is shared on here often. - imho - [8-|]
xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".
Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!
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