Description
Book SynopsisEric Bain-Selbo argues that the study of religionfrom philosophers to psychologists, and historians of religion to sociologistshas separated out the ends or goals of religion and thus created the conditions by which institutional religion is increasingly irrelevant in contemporary Western culture.There is ample evidence that institutional religion is in trouble, and little evidence that it will strengthen in the future, giving some reason to believe that we are in the process of seeing the end of religion. At the same time, various cultural practices have met in the past and continue to meet today certain fundamental human needsneeds that we might identify as religious that now are being fulfilled through what Bain-Selbo calls the religion of culture.
The End(s) of Religion traces the way that the very study of religion has led to institutional religion being viewed as just one human institution that can address our particular religious needs rather than the sole institution to
Trade ReviewThis wonderful book has managed to pull off a rather remarkable feat: the drawing of a clean line from foundational analysts of religion to the present and future state of religious studies. Eric Bain-Selbo is at once concise and sprawling; critical yet graceful; cautious while taking risks; and optimistic though starkly real in
The End(s) of Religion. * Jeffrey Scholes, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, USA *
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Very Brief Comments to Get Us Started 1. The Ethical/Philosophical Function of Religion: Kant, Hegel, and So Forth 2. The Sociological Function of Religion: Durkheim and Weber 3. The Psychological Function of Religion: Freud, Jung, and Beyond 4. The Existential Function of Religion: Eliade and Tillich Interlude 5. The Religion of Culture 6. What Happens Next? Some Concluding Remarks Postscript: A Cautionary Tale Notes Bibliography Index
