Theory for Religious Studies

Reviews / Votes

"Clear, crisp and cogent: all words the reader will use to describe this superb new reference book on contemporary theories and the study of religion. According to authors William Deal and Tim Beal, theory is a way of seeing, of viewing a subject in order to understand. The authors help us to see religion in many new ways by providing overviews of contemporary theories and their usefulness in viewing religion. Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members will find this an excellent introduction to contemporary theories and to new ways of understanding religion." - Rebecca Chopp, Colgate University "Clear, crisp and cogent: all words the reader will use to describe this superb new reference book on contemporary theories and the study of religion. According to authors William Deal and Tim Beal, theory is a way of seeing, of viewing a subject in order to understand. The authors help us to see religion in many new ways by providing overviews of contemporary theories and their usefulness in viewing religion. Undergraduates, graduate students and faculty members will find this an excellent introduction to contemporary theories and to new ways of understanding religion." -- Rebecca Chopp, Colgate University

"Each chapter has several features that would help in teaching: a list of key concepts, a brief biographical sketch, lists of further readings by and about each thinker, and a specific discusiion of which religious phenomena might benefit from the respective theories." --Steven Engler, Mount Royal College and Pontifica Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo, Religious Studies Review