The Culture of the Sacred: Exploring the Anthropology of Religion

Why is religion relevant? Why are there so many "believers"? Why is religion significant both as a cause of discord and strife and as a perpetual source of security identity, purpose, meaning, and values? Written from the perspective that culture and religion are holistic systems composed of interrelated elements, including belief, ritual, mythology, and ethics, this well﷓organized text explores religion’s enduring role in political, economic, and social affairs. Angrosino has taken a unique approach to capture the attention of readers who are new to the study of religion and culture. Each chapter contains an overview, research explorations, a case study, discussion questions, and suggested resources. The overview, an accessible treatment of often﷓complex concepts, is followed by research explorations—suggested activities that involve students in hands﷓on projects geared to looking at how others experience various elements of religion. Next, a carefully chosen article, written by a recognized scholar(s), illustrates the chapter’s main theme and exposes readers to relevant perspectives and original sources. Discussion questions link the concepts presented in the case study to the main points of the chapter, and the list of suggested readings and video resources provides further enrichment. The appendix contains chapter﷓by﷓chapter questions for review. This text is loaded with the necessary tools for learning new concepts and achieving a better understanding of religion as a permeating, enduring, and significant system.