The Anthropology of Religion Peter Metcalf is an English-language textbook that provides insight into the methods of anthropologists when investigating religions outside the sphere of influence of the world economy and traditional world religions. This book is suitable for students in higher education who are delving into cultural and social anthropology.
It describes how anthropology was used in the twentieth century to document religious beliefs and rituals. Starting with the popularity of anthropology in the nineteenth century, the book addresses the challenges researchers encountered when trying to understand the deep worldviews of diverse societies. The focus is on observing rituals, asking questions, and translating abstract concepts into unfamiliar languages.
With examples from different continents, this book highlights the value of an anthropological approach to studying religion.
Topics align with Social and cultural anthropology, Indigenous peoples: religions, belief systems, cultural worldviews and spiritual beliefs, and SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social.