The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction

By Fiona Bowie

Book Overview

Now available in a revised second edition, this popular introduction to the anthropology of religion combines discussion of the origin and development of debates within the field, with a look at where the subject is heading. Introduces readers to the central theoretical ideas in the anthropology of religion and illustrates them with specific case studies. Features self-contained chapters, each with its own comprehensive bibliography, so that they can be approached in any order. Contains an additional chapter on mythology and a number of new illustrations. Incorporates coverage of the following topics in the existing structure: pilgrimage, spirit possession and cargo cults. Includes a list of ethnographic films and videos that can be used to illustrate and extend discussion of particular issues.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 140512105X
• ISBN13: 9781405121057
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Anthropology of Religion by Bowie

Bowie's Introduction to The Anthropology of Religion is well written and introduces the reader to a broad spectrum of religions and worldviews. Basic and complex perspectives are presented in a format that is understandable and enlightening. I highly recommend this reading. I plan to use it as a introductory textbook in my Anthropology of Religion class.

The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction

The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction by Fiona Bowie is a fascinating textbook that takes up subjects such as "The body as a symbol", "Sex, gender and the sacred" and Shamanism to mention a few. Bowie writes with authority on all the subjects and seems to truly know what she is writing about. In fact she inspires the reader to further ones knowledge in several fields and this is indeed a tall task as many textbooks are quite difficult and taxing to read and one does it merely to finish a class. The chapters that I thought were the best where the following, "Maintaining and transforming boundaries: the politics of religious identity" and the chapter that took up gender and the sacred was also great. I highly recommend this textbook and I will definitely buy the next edition whenever that is published.