Religious Studies: The Key Concepts

Religious Studies: The Key Concepts is an accessible, A-Z resource, defining and explaining key terms and ideas central to the study of religion. Exploring broad and recurring themes which are applicable in both eastern and western religions, cross-cultural examples are provided for each term to give a comprehensive overview of the subject. Subjects covered include:

• afterlife
• comparative religion
• festivals
• ethics
• gender
• monotheism
• world religions
• modernity
• pilgrimage
• theism
• secularization

With cross referencing and further reading provided throughout, this book provides an inclusive map of the discipline, and is an essential reference for all students, academics and researchers.

Carl Olson is Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College where he has held the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair and the Teacher-Scholar Professorship of the Humanities. He is currently a permanent fellow of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge