Expressions Of Religion

Vernacular religion is religion as people experience, understand, and practice it. It shapes everyday culture and disrupts the traditional boundaries between 'official' and 'folk' religion. The book analyses vernacular religion in a range of Christian denominations as well as in indigenous and New Age religion from the nineteenth century to today. How these differing expressions of belief are shaped by their individual, communal and national contexts is also explored. What is revealed is the consistency of genres, the persistence of certain key issues, and how globalization in all its cultural and technological forms is shaping contemporary faith practice. The book will be valuable to students of ethnology, folklore, religious studies, and anthropology.

This volume brings together experts in ethnology, anthropology, folklore, sociology and history of art, in order to discuss the varieties or religious expression through ritual performance, empirical ethnographic analysis and sensory modes of perception. The primary goal of the book is to re-centralize the importance of expressing religion through performance, art and the senses, and to approach performative action as religion in a variety of sociocultural, historical, political and spiritual contexts. The authors in this volume examine, in distinct yet convergent ways, how religion is creatively expressed, ritually performed and sensorially experienced at present and/or in the past. The significance of this book lies exactly on the richness and diversity of expressions of religion that are presented here, and on the multi-disciplinary dialogue that is generated among diverse theoretical, analytical and methodological approaches.

A stunning combination of inspirational paintings by renowned artist Greg Olsen paired with classic and contemporary Christian poetry.

Religion in 50 More Words: A Redescriptive Vocabulary provides a succinct historical, social, and political examination of some of the key words used in the modern study of religion. Differing from the first volume’s more theoretical focus, this volume analyzes more common first order descriptive terms that are used throughout the field, inviting readers to theorize their traditional vocabulary. Topics covered include: • Atheism/Theism • Conversion • Cult • Evil • Fundamentalism • Idol • Magic • Pilgrimage • Ritual • Sacrifice Religion in 50 More Words submits such terms to a critical interrogation and subsequent redescription. This paves the way for a collective and more critical reframing of the field. The volume, along with Religion in 50 Words, provides an indispensable resource for students and academics working in the field of religious studies and cognate disciplines.

This book profiles four generations of women from one Afro-Cuban religious family. From a plantation in Havana Province in the 1890s to a religious center in Spanish Harlem in the 1960s, these women were connected by their prominent roles as leaders in the religions they practiced and the dramatic ritual artwork they created. Each woman was a medium in Espiritismo—communicating with dead ancestors for guidance or insight—and also a santera, or priest of Santería, who could intervene with the oricha pantheon. Kristine Juncker argues that, by creating art for more than one religion, these women shatter the popular assumption that Afro-Caribbean religions are exclusive organizations. Most remarkably, the portraiture, sculptures, and photographs in Afro-Cuban Religious Arts offer rare glimpses into the rituals and iconography of these religions. Santería altars are closely guarded, limited to initiates, and typically destroyed upon the death of the santera, while Espiritismo artifacts are rarely considered valuable enough to pass on. The unique and protean cultural legacy detailed here reveals insights into how ritual art became popular imagery, sparked a wider dialogue about culture inheritance, attracted new practitioners, and enabled the movement to explode internationally.

The anthology Religions of the World: Expressions of Faith and Pathways to the Divine explores the twelve most common expressions of religious faith in our world today, and introduces students to religions which may be unknown to them. It shows them how the customs of differing faith traditions relate to familiar aspects of American culture and religious expression. By examining vital questions about the influence of religion on the world, how religion is expressed, and issues of pluralism versus exclusivity, the book helps students understand the importance of studying religion in all its complex and diverse forms. In addition to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, the book discusses Confucianism, Jainism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Sikhism. The indigenous religions of Africa and North America are also addressed. Through sensitive, well-researched reading selections students will see how these various religions deal with rites of passage, symbolism, taboos, divination, sacrifice, ancestor veneration, magic, and other expressions of spirituality and the divine. This new edition features several new articles, including a background of Daoism, and updated review questions. Religions of the World is ideal for courses on comparative or world religion. F.C. La Spina earned his master of theological studies degree from Emory University. In addition to 35 years of experience in church management, he has taught collegiate-level courses for 30 years. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at James Madison University, where his course offerings include classes on world religions and scripture.