The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction

The second edition of this popular introduction to the anthropology of religion now features new chapters on mythology and pilgrimage, as well as coverage of topics such as spirit possession and cargo cults. The volume: Introduces readers to the central theoretical ideas in the anthropology of religion, illustrating them with specific case studies; Features self–contained chapters, each with its own comprehensive bibliography, so that they can be approached in any order; Develops ideas throughout the book, linking the work of nineteenth– and early twentieth–century scholars, and contemporary ideas and practices; Includes an appendix offering a list of ethnographic films and videos that can be used to illustrate and extend the discussion of particular issues. This accessible textbook will inspire students to explore the field further and encourage them to see that anthropology is not just about reading or doing fieldwork, but offers an enriching way of looking at the world.

Preface to the Second Edition. Preface to the First Edition. Acknowledgments. 1 Theories and Controversies . Introduction. Issues in the Study of Religion. The Origins of Religion. Defining Religion. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 2 The Body as Symbol . Introduction. Symbolic Classification and the Body. Training the Body and Social Control. Personal and Cultural Symbols. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 3 Maintaining and Transforming Boundaries: the Politics of Religious Identity . Introduction. Ritual Purity and Social Boundaries. Negotiating Identities. Contesting Boundaries. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 4 Sex, Gender, and the Sacred . Introduction. Looking at Women. Reflexivity and Gender. Gendered Studies. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 5 Religion, Culture, and Environment . Introduction. Cosmology. Mythology, Gender, and the Environment. Totemism and the Dreamtime. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 6 Ritual Theory, Rites of Passage, and Ritual Violence . Introduction. What is Ritual?. Rites of Passage. Ritual Violence. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 7 Shamanism . Introduction. Different Approaches to the Study of Shamanism. Arctic Shamanism. Shamanism in the Industrialized West. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 8 Witchcraft and the Evil Eye . Introduction. Witchcraft in Africa. Witchcraft in Rural France. The Evil Eye. The Mentalities Debate. Notes. References and Further Reading. 9 Pilgrimage. Introduction. Approaches to the Study of Pilgrimage. The Politics of Religious Synthesis. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 10 Myth . Introduction. Myth and Ritual. Malinowski and the Function of Myth. The Power of Myth. The Structural Study of Myth. Joseph Campbell and the Monomyth. History, Myth, and Memory. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. Appendix: Film and Video Resources. Index

Fiona Bowie is Senior Lecturer in Anthropology and Religious Studies at the University of Bristol.