A Practical Guide to Critical Religion

Alexander Henley

ISBN 10: 1350256471 / ISBN 13: 9781350256477

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, GB, 2026

About this Item

Making critical theory on 'religion' accessible to students and skeptics, this Practical Guide showcases its relevance and usefulness for research and teaching on all sorts of contemporary subjects.Why do many scholars now doubt that 'religion' is a useful concept for understanding aspects of our world? What's wrong with describing things as 'religious' or 'non-religious'? Why does it matter, and what can we do about it?The book begins with a toolkit of concepts and methods for doing Critical Religion. Part I provides a roadmap to navigate this critical turn in religious studies and its implications across disciplines. In Part II, we hear from three influential theorists on the importance of being critical about 'religion' and the 'secular', and what it means to them. Then in Part III we see these insights put into practice: eight pioneering scholars present case studies that show how they have applied critical approaches in their own fields. Each case highlights ways in which Critical Religion has enriched their empirical research or how they think about teaching.Through a diverse sample of cutting-edge scholarship, this book demonstrates what Critical Religion means in action. It includes perspectives on history, anthropology, sociology, political science and education, with cases representing research in contexts from Japan to the Middle East to Europe and North America.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781350256477

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Practical Guide to Critical Religion
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, GB
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1350256471
• ISBN 13: 9781350256477
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 320 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Making critical theory on 'religion' accessible to students and skeptics, this Practical Guide showcases its relevance and usefulness for research and teaching on all sorts of contemporary subjects.

Why do many scholars now doubt that 'religion' is a useful concept for understanding aspects of our world? What's wrong with describing things as 'religious' or 'non-religious'? Why does it matter, and what can we do about it?

The book begins with a toolkit of concepts and methods for doing Critical Religion. Part I provides a roadmap to navigate this critical turn in religious studies and its implications across disciplines. In Part II, we hear from three influential theorists on the importance of being critical about 'religion' and the 'secular', and what it means to them. Then in Part III we see these insights put into practice: eight pioneering scholars present case studies that show how they have applied critical approaches in their own fields. Each case highlights ways in which Critical Religion has enriched their empirical research or how they think about teaching.

Through a diverse sample of cutting-edge scholarship, this book demonstrates what Critical Religion means in action. It includes perspectives on history, anthropology, sociology, political science and education, with cases representing research in contexts from Japan to the Middle East to Europe and North America.

About the Authors

Alexander Henley leads a graduate programme in Islamic Studies at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, UK, and is an associate member of The Faculty of Theology & Religion, University of Oxford, UK.

Craig Martin is Professor of Religious Studies, St. Thomas Aquinas College, USA.