From Primitive to Indigenous - The Academic Study of Indigenous Religions

The academic study of Indigenous Religions developed historically from missiological and anthropological sources, but little analysis has been devoted to this classification within departments of religious studies. Evaluating this assumption in the light of case studies drawn from Zimbabwe, Alaska and shamanic traditions, and in view of current debates over 'primitivism', James Cox mounts a defence for the scholarly use of the category 'Indigenous Religions'.

List of contents

Acknowledgments; Introduction; Chapter 1 The Academic Study of Indigenous Religions; Chapter 2 Essentialism and the World Religions Paradigm; Chapter 3 Defining 'Indigenous' Scientifically; Chapter 4 Towards a Socio-cultural, Non-essentialist Interpretation of Religion; Chapter 5 The Yupiit of Alaska; Chapter 6 The Adaptive Nature of Indigenous Religions in Zimbabwe; Chapter 7 Indigenous Religions and the Debate over Primitivism; Chapter 101 Afterword;

About the author

James L. Cox is Professor of Religious Studies in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Report

'This is a valuable book.' Journal of the American Academy of Religion '... an interesting and challenging book.' Anthropos

Product details

• Authors: James L Cox, James L. Cox, Cox James L.
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 27.02.2017
• EAN: 9781138265110
• ISBN: 978-1-138-26511-0
• No. of pages: 206
• Series: Vitality of Indigenous Religions
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, Anthropology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, Religion: general, Religion & beliefs, Religion and beliefs, Other non-Christian religions, Further religions and spiritual beliefs,