Straying from the Straight Path: How Senses of Failure Invigorate Lived Religion (Studies in Social Analysis Book 3)

If piety, faith, and conviction constitute one side of the religious coin, then imperfection, uncertainty, and ambivalence constitute the other. Yet, scholars tend to separate these two domains and place experiences of inadequacy in everyday religious life – such as a wavering commitment, religious negligence or weakness in faith – outside the domain of religion ‘proper.’ __Straying from the Straight Path__ breaks with this tendency by examining how self-perceived failure is, in many cases, part and parcel of religious practice and experience. Responding to the need for comparative approaches in the face of the largely separated fields of the anthropology of Islam and Christianity, this volume gives full attention to moral failure as a constitutive and potentially energizing force in the religious lives of both Muslims and Christians in different parts of the world. If Piety, Faith, And Conviction Constitute One Side Of The Religious Coin, Then Imperfection, Uncertainty, And Ambivalence Constitute The Other. Yet, Scholars Tend To Separate These Two Domains And Place Experiences Of Inadequacy In Everyday Religious Life - Such As A Wavering Commitment, Religious Negligence Or Weakness In Faith - Outside The Domain Of Religion 'proper.' Straying From The Straight Path Breaks With This Tendency By Examining How Self-perceived Failure Is, In Many Cases, Part And Parcel Of Religious Practice And Experience. Responding To The Need For Comparative Approaches In The Face Of The Largely Separated Fields Of The Anthropology Of Islam And Christianity, This Volume Gives Full Attention To Moral Failure As A Constitutive And Potentially Energizing Force In The Religious Lives Of Both Muslims And Christians In Different Parts Of The World. Introduction : The Productive Potential Of Moral Failure In Lived Islam And Christianity / David Kloos And Daan Beekers -- In What Does Failure Succeed? : Conceptions Of Sin And The Role Of Human Moral Vulnerability In Pentecostal And Charismatic Christianity / Joel Robbins And Leanne Williams Green -- I'm A Weak Servant : The Question Of Sincerity And The Cultivation Of Weakness In The Lives Of Dutch Salafi Muslims / Martijn De Koning -- Success, Risk, And Failure : The Brazilian Prosperity Gospel In Mozambique / Linda Van De Kamp -- Fitting God In : Secular Routines, Prayer, And Deceleration Among Young Dutch Muslims And Christians / Daan Beekers -- The Ethics Of Not-praying : Religious Negligence, Life Phase, And Social Status In Aceh, Indonesia / David Kloos -- Moral Failure, Everyday Religion, And Islamic Authorization / Thijl Sunier -- Epilogue : Religion, Lived Religion, And The Authenticity Of Failure / Mattijs Van De Port. Edited By Daan Beekers And David Kloos. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "If piety, faith, and conviction constitute one side of the religious coin, then imperfection, uncertainty, and ambivalence constitute the other. Yet scholars tend to separate these two domains and place experiences of inadequacy in everyday religious life--such as a wavering commitment, religious negligence, or weakness in faith--outside the domain of religion "proper." Straying from the Straight Path breaks with this tendency by examining how self-perceived failure is, in many cases, part and parcel of religious practice and experience. Responding to the need for comparative approaches in the face of the largely separated fields of the anthropology of Islam and Christianity, this volume gives full attention to moral failure as a constitutive and potentially energizing force in the religious lives of both Muslims and Christians in different parts of the world."--Page 4 of cover Contents Preface Introduction: The Productive Potential of Moral Failure in Lived Islam and Christianity Chapter 1 In What Does Failure Succ eed? Conceptions of Sin and the Role of Human Moral Vulnerability in Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity Chapter 2 “I’m a Weak Servant” The Question of Sincerity and the Cultivation of Weakness in the Lives of Dutch Salafi Muslims Chapter 3 Success , Risk, and Failure: The Brazilian Prosperity Gospel in Mozambique Chapter 4 Fitting God in: Secular Routines, Prayer, and Deceleration among Young Dutch Muslims and Christians Chapter 5 The Ethics of Not-Praying: Religious Negligence, Life Phase, and Social Status in Aceh, Indonesia Chapter 6 Moral Failure, Everyday Religion, and Islamic Authorization Epilogue: Religion, Lived Religion, and the “Authenticity” of Failure Index