Exploring the controversial issue of myth, this collection features diverse readings that approach the topic from philosophical, psychological, sociological, semiological, and cognitivist perspectives. Each piece is introduced by the editor, providing context and insight into the multifaceted nature of myth and its significance across various disciplines.
A wide-ranging, current and accessible overview of the history, theories and practices of religion.
Syncretism - the fusion of different beliefs into one religious system - has long been controversial in scholarship. It is widely held that religion, culture and ethnicity are pure entities that may become mixed in encounter and lead to impure, hybrid forms. 'Syncretism in Religion' presents a selection of essays committed to solving the problems of syncretism. The essays reflect the full breadth of religious traditions that could be called syncretistic. An overview of the historical background of syncretism is given, alongside classical readings from the history of religion, definitions of syncretism in relation to theories of power, and an assessment of the future of the subject. This volume brings together the work of authors who have made significant contributions in the field, some appearing for the first time in English. It will be of interest to any student or scholar of religion, philosophy or anthropology concerned with the dynamics of cultural contact and change.