Author Description

Religion is studied from a multitude of approaches and methodologies: history, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, psychology and the academic study of religion. This book differs from most other introductions and handbooks in that it draws on ongoing research to show 'how' researchers approach their topics. The aim is to provide orientation in this multidisciplinary context without attempting to homogenize the field. It is intended for undergraduate students studying religion as well as broader audiences interested in the study of religion. The introduction provides students with an overview of four key issues that are at stake in choosing an approach to studying religion in a multidisciplinary context: 1) the ways scholars conceptualize and delineate 'religion' as an object of study, 2) what theory is and what it is for, 3) at what level of analysis research may take place, and 4) the 'problem of belief' in the study of religion. In the subsequent chapters, each author discusses material from their own research to demonstrate the approach and methodology they apply and what kind of insights these yield. Collectively, the introduction and the individual chapters allow students to orient themselves with regard to the various methodologies and perspectives that may be deployed to formulate and answer their own research questions.