Read more
Zusatztext This volume offers a valuable annotated translation of the work of one of Egypt’s most important Islamic scholars from the last century. It will allow readers of English to learn about what is arguably the most significant Islamic intervention from the period into debates in the sociology of religion. Anyone interested in provincializing Europe in the study of religion should read this. Informationen zum Autor Dr. Yahya Haidar is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sciences and Liberal Arts at The Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, UAE Klappentext Originally published in 1952, al-Din , by prominent Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abdullah Draz (1894-1958), has been critically acclaimed as one of the most influential Arab Muslim studies of universal 'religion' and forms of religiosity in modern times. Written as an introductory textbook for a course in the "History of Religions" at King Fuad I University in Cairo-the first of its kind offered at an Egyptian institution of higher learning-this book presents a critical overview of classical approaches to the scholarly study of religion. While ultimately adapted to an Islamic paradigm, the book is a novel attempt to construct a grand narrative about the large methodological issues of Religious Studies and the History of Religions and in relation to modernity and secularism. Translated for the first time in English by Yahya Haidar, this book demonstrates how the scholarly academic study of religion in the West, often described as 'Orientalist', came to influence and help shape a counter-discourse from one of the leading Arab Muslim scholars of his time. Vorwort An English translation of the seminal introductory textbook 'History of Religions' by M.A. Draz, the first of its kind at Egyptian universities. Zusammenfassung Originally published in 1952, al-Din , by prominent Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abdullah Draz (1894–1958), has been critically acclaimed as one of the most influential Arab Muslim studies of universal 'religion' and forms of religiosity in modern times. Written as an introductory textbook for a course in the "History of Religions" at King Fuad I University in Cairo—the first of its kind offered at an Egyptian institution of higher learning—this book presents a critical overview of classical approaches to the scholarly study of religion. While ultimately adapted to an Islamic paradigm, the book is a novel attempt to construct a grand narrative about the large methodological issues of Religious Studies and the History of Religions and in relation to modernity and secularism. Translated for the first time in English by Yahya Haidar, this book demonstrates how the scholarly academic study of religion in the West, often described as 'Orientalist', came to influence and help shape a counter-discourse from one of the leading Arab Muslim scholars of his time. Inhaltsverzeichnis Foreword Acknowledgements Editor’s Introduction M. A. Draz Al-Din: Background, context and summary Note on the translation Introduction: A brief overview of the history of the study of religions The pharaonic age The Hellenic age The Roman age The Christian age The Islamic age The European Renaissance 1 Determining the meaning of ‘religion’ 2 Religion, morality, philosophy and science Religion and morality Religion and philosophy Religion and the sciences 3 Humanity’s natural religious inclination The antiquity of religions The future of religion in the face of scientific progress Sources of the religious sentiment in human nature The social function of religions 4 On the origin of belief in God Underlying factors in the human mind Naturalism Animism Psychology Morality Sociology Revelation Conclusion Editor’s Bibliography Author’s Bibliography Index...