With this influential collection of essays, Jonathan Z. Smith has given the academic study of religion a new theoretical direction that is neither theological nor ideological. Using diverse examples, such as the Maori cults in 19th-century New Zealand and the events in Jonestown, Smith shows that religion must be understood as conventional, anthropological, historical, and as a product of imagination.
Religion appears in his analyses as the result of human creativity, cognition, and curiosity, embedded in specific historical and geographical contexts. In other words, religion is human labor and one of the fundamental ways in which people shape and understand their living world.
Content and themes
- Critical view on taxonomy and comparison within religious studies
- Renewal of concepts such as canon and ritual
- Reinterpretation of often studied myths from a situational perspective
- Clear analysis of the Jonestown case as an example of historical-religious interpretation
Language and target audience
This work is suitable for academics and those interested in religious studies who want to deepen and sharpen their knowledge. The language is Dutch and the level is aimed at advanced users with an interest in theoretical and historical approaches.
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