Stereotyping Religion Critiquing Clichés

Our culture is full of popular stereotypes about religion, both positive and negative. Many people uncritically assume that religion is intrinsically violent, or that religion makes people moral, or that it is simply "bullshit". This concise volume tackles 10 of these stereotypes, addresses why scholars of religion find them to be cliched, describes their origins, and explains the social or political work they rhetorically accomplish in the present.

Cliches addressed include the following:

- Religions are belief systems
- I'm spiritual but not religious
- Religion concerns the transcendent
- Learning about religions leads to tolerance and understanding
- Religion is a private matter.

Written in an easy and accessible style, Stereotyping Religion: Critiquing Cliches will be of interest to all readers looking to clear away unsophisticated assumptions in preparation for more critical studies.

Brad Stoddard is Assistant Professor of religious studies at McDaniel College, USA.

Craig Martin is Associate Professor of religious studies at St Thomas Aquinas College, USA.

1. Preface
2. Introduction
3. “Religions are Belief Systems,” Sean McCloud, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, USA
4. “Religions are Intrinsically Violent,” Matt Sheedy, University of Manitoba, Canada
5. “I'm Spiritual but not Religious,” Russell T. McCutcheon, University of Alabama, USA
6. “Religion Concerns the Transcendent,” Leslie Dorrough Smith, Avila University, USA
7. “Religion Makes People Moral,” Jennifer Eyl, Tufts University, USA
8. “Learning about Religions Leads to Tolerance and Understanding,” Tenzan Eaghll, University of Toronto, Canada
9. “Everyone Has a Faith,” Dennis LoRusso, Princeton University, USA
10. “Religions are Mutually Exclusive,” Steven Ramey, University of Alabama, USA
11. “Religion is a Private Matter,” Robyn Walsh, University of Miami, USA
12. “Religion is Bullshit,” Rebekka King, Middle Tennessee State University, USA
Bibliography
Index

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