Religion: Empirical Studies

Treating 'religion' as a fully social, cultural, historical and material field of practice, this book presents a series of debates and positions on the nature and purpose of the 'Study of Religions', or 'Religious Studies'. Offering an introductory guide to this influential, and politically relevant, academic field, the contributors illustrate the diversity and theoretical viability of empirical methodologies in the study of religions. The historical and cultural circumstances attending the emergence, defence and future prospects of Religious Studies are documented, drawing on theoretical material and case studies prepared within the context of the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR), and making frequent reference to wider European, North American and other international debates and critiques.

Miranda Aldhouse-Green is Professor of Archaeology and Head of the SCARAB (Study of Culture, Archaeology, Religion and Biogeography) Research Centre at the University of Wales, Newport Elizabeth Amoah is Senior Lecturer and former Head of Department for the Study of Religion, University of Ghana at Lagos Peter Antes is Professor and Head of the Department for the History of Religions (Religionswissenschaft) at the University of Hannover, Germany Chris Arthur, MA PhD (Edinburgh) is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter Brian Bocking is Professor of the Study of Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London Marion Bowman is Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at The Open University George D. Chryssides is currently Head of Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton James L. Cox is Reader in Religious Studies and Convenor of the Religious Studies Subject Group in the University of Edinburgh Armin W. Geertz is Professor in the History of Religions in the Department of the Study of Religion at the University of Aarhus, Denmark Richard Gombrich has been Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University Gerrie ter Haar is Professor of Religion, Human Rights and Social Change at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands Ria Kloppenborg, who died in 2003, was Senior Professor of History of Religions and Comparative Religion in the Department of History of Religions, Faculty of Theology, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands Kim Knott is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Leeds Julia Leslie is Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies, and Chair of the Centre for Gender and Religions Research, in the Department of the Study of Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, Politics and Public Policy and the founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at the University of Bristol Peggy Morgan is Lecturer in the Study of Religions at Mansfield College Steven J. Sutcliffe was recently Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh Terence Thomas is former Senior Lecturer and Staff Tutor in the Open University in Wales and former Head of the Department of Religious Studies at The Open University