Official and Popular Religion: Analysis of a Theme for Religious Studies (Religion and society)

The series Religion and Society (RS) contributes to the exploration of religions as social systems– both in Western and non-Western societies; in particular, it examines religions in their differentiation from, and intersection with, other cultural systems, such as art, economy, law and politics. Due attention is given to paradigmatic case or comparative studies that exhibit a clear theoretical orientation with the empirical and historical data of religion and such aspects of religion as ritual, the religious imagination, constructions of tradition, iconography, or media. In addition, the formation of religious communities, their construction of identity, and their relation to society and the wider public are key issues of this series. Preface 5 Contents 9 List of Contributors 13 Introduction 15 Part One. Official And Popular Religion In Western Christianity 25 1. Popular Religious Practices and Ecclesiastical Policies in the Early Church 25 2. Christianity and Germanic Religion 69 3. Official and Popular Religion in Christianity : The Late Middle-Ages and Early Modern Times (13th - 18th centuries) 85 4. Popular and Official Religion in Christianity: Three Cases in Nineteenth Century Europe 131 5. A Problem for Sociology: Contemporary Developments in the Roman-Catholic Church 180 6. Some Reflections on the Position of the Christian Religion in a Situation of Affluence: The Welfare State 214 7. Official and Popular Religion in Twentieth Century Western Christianity 231 8. Official and Popular Religion in an Ecumenical Perspective 258 9. Some Psychological Remarks on Official and Popular Religion 308 Part Two. Official and Popular Religion in Religions outside Christianity 339 10. Official and Popular Religion in Judaism 339 11. Official and Popular Religion as a Problem in Islamic Studies 354 12. Official and Popular Religion in the Chinese Empire 401 13. The Complexity of Japanese Religion 441 14. The Movements of Hams Ji Maharaj and of Chinmayananda as Processes of Change in Hinduism 476 15. Some Reflexions on the Study of Sinhalese Buddhism 501 16. Traditional Religion as a Locus of Change 528 17. The Akan Believer and his Religions 558 18. The Role of Truth and Meaning in Changing Religious Systems 621 Part Three: Summaries And Conclusion 645 19. Summaries of the Contributions 645 20. Conclusion 682 21. Suggestions for Further Research 714 Part Four. Indexes 721 Index of Proper Names 721 Index of Subjects 733 Index of Non-Western Terms 751 Introduction / P.h. Vrijhof. -- Popular Religious Practices And Ecclesiastical Policies In The Early Church / R. Van Den Broek. -- Christianity And Germanic Religion / J.a. Huisman. -- Official And Popular Religion In Christianity: The Late Middle-ages And Early Modern Times (13th-18th Centuries) / W.th.m. Frijhoff. -- Popular And Official Religion In Christianity: Three Cases In Nineteenth Century Europe / G.j.f. Bouritius. -- A Problem For Sociology: Contemporary Developments In The Roman-catholic Church / E.j.m.g. Roebroeck. -- Some Reflections On The Position Of The Christian Religion In A Situation Of Affluence: The Welfare State / A.j. Wichers. Official And Popular Religion In Twentieth Century Western Christianity / P.h. Vrijhof. -- Official And Popular Religion In An Ecumenical Perspective / P. Staples. -- Some Psychologicl Remarks On Official And Popular Religion / C.j.m. Donders. -- Official And Popular Religion In Judaism / J.w. Doeve. -- Official And Popular Religion As A Problem In Islamic Studies / J.d.j. Waardenburg. -- Official And Popular Religion In The Chinese Empire / R. Ransdorp. -- The Complexity Of Japanese Religion / J.h. Kamstra. -- The Movements Of Hams Ji Mahārāj And Of Chinmayānanda As Processes Of Change In Hinduism / D.j. Hoens. -- Some Reflexions On The Study Of Sinhalese Buddhism / M.a.g.t. Kloppenborg. Traditional Religion As A Locus Of Change / W.e.a. Van Beek. -- The Akan Believer And His Religions / J.g. Platvoet. -- The Role Of Truth And Meaning In Changing Religious Systems / J. Van Baal. Ed. By Pieter Hendrik Vrijhof And Jacques Waardenburg. Includes Bibliographies And Indexes. In his Confessions, St. Augustine illustrates with the following story the great respect of his mother Monica for St. Ambrose, the famous bishop of Milan: 'It had been my mother's custom in Africa to take meal-cakes and bread and wine to the shrines of the saints on their memorial days, but the doorkeeper would not allow her to do this in Milan.