Description
Book SynopsisTogether, the essays that constitute Exploring the Religious Life offer an engaging introduction to Rodney Stark's provocative insights and a fearless challenge to academic perceptions about religion's place in history, society, and private life.
Trade ReviewRodney Stark, whom some consider, not without reason, today's most provocative thinker in the sociology of religion. This book of essays is a sampler of Stark's sometimes contrarian but always suggestive explorations into 'the religious life.' First Things 2004 [Stark] has been throwing elegant, polished bricks at the dogmas of sociology for many years... Exploring the Religious Life is a whole bag of bricks, a collection of his recent essays about religion... This book of essays belongs in every college and university library so that students can be directed to it for a contrarian view of the dilapidated secularization theory. -- Andrew Greeley Catholic Historical Review 2004 gratifying in its wisdom -- Paul H. Jones Lexington Theological Quarterly 2007 Read as a positive provocation, Stark's definitions open discussion concerning the subject of the scientific study of religion -- Ole Riis History of Religions 2008
Table of ContentsPreface
Chapter 1. Religion, Magic & Science
Chapter 2. In Praise of "Idealistic Humbug"
Chapter 3. Upper-Class Asceticism
Chapter 4. Faith & Gender
Chapter 5. How Are Revelations Possible?
Chapter 6. Spirituality & Unchurched Religions in America, Sweden & Japan
Chapter 7. Gods, Rituals & Moral Order
Chapter 8. Discovering Data on Religion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
