Religion: The Classical Theories

James Thrower

Published by Edinburgh University Press 1999

Religion

The Classical Theories

James Thrower

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474473255

Overview
Contents

About this book

Reviews, in a single volume, the theories of religion which have been put forward by both believers and non-believers.

Comprehensive survey of the field
Theories will be considered against the phenomenon of religion world-wide
Theories offered in a way that lets the student make up his or her own mind

'Why theories of religion?' After raising and answering this question the author begins his examination of theories of religion by first looking at the explanations given by religious believers (Revelation and Religious Experience). He then considers the views of thinkers who have sought to transform religion into philosophy (Plato, Kant and Hegel), before reviewing the theories of those who have seen religion as arising out of errors in primitive thinking (Tylor, Frazer and Levy-Bruhl) and those 'masters of suspicion', as Paul Ricoeur has called them (Feuerbach, Nietzsche, Marx and Freud) who offered what they believed to be exhaustive psychological and sociological theories of the origin and nature of religion. In the course of his discussion the author also engages with many contemporary thinkers whose discussions of religion have been based on these classical accounts. In a brief conclusion the author tries to assess the future of the religions of the world in light of the increasingly close inter-religious encounters that are becoming a feature of the 'global village' of thetwenty-first century.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Part I RELIGIOUS THEORIES OF RELIGION
2. Religion as Revelation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
3. Religion as Experience Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	49
4. Religion as Philosophy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	74
Part II NATURALISTIC THEORIES OF RELIGION
5. Religion as Human Construct Some Greek and Roman Theories of Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
6. Religion as Primitive Error Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
7. Religion as Psychological Construct Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
8. Religion as Social Construct Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161
9. Conclusion: What is Religion? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	206

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 224
Keywords: Religious Studies

eBook

Published: February 15, 2022
ISBN: 9781474473255