Description
Book SynopsisRitual studies today figures as a central element of religious discourse for many scholars around the world. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice, Catherine Bell''s sweeping and seminal work on the subject, helped legitimize the field. In this volume, Bell re-examines the issues, methods, and ramifications of our interest in ritual by concentrating on anthropology, sociology, and the history of religions. Now with a new foreword by Diane Jonte-Pace, Bell''s work is a must-read for understanding the evolution of the field of ritual studies and its current state.
Trade ReviewThrows down the gauntlet to cultural interpretations of ritual....Bell's erudition and command of the literature, especially in the field of anthropology, is most impressive. Her appeal for the centrality of dynamic individuals, strategies, and power relationships is powerful and will no doubt strike a chord among those similarly disaffected with prevailing trends in understanding ritual. * American Journal of Sociology *
Table of ContentsCONTENTS; INTRODUCTION; THE PRACTICE OF RITUAL THEORY; II. THE SENSE OF RITUAL; III. RITUAL AND POWER; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX
