The Legacy, Life and Work of Geo Widengren and the Study of the History of Religions after World War II

This unique volume pays tribute to Professor Geo Widengren’s academic achievements and critically discusses his work in light of the latest academic research. It also casts light on the origins of the IAHR and History of Religions as a discipline. Contents Part 1 Thesis and International Work Chapter 1 Geo Widengren: A Portrait of a Swedish Historian of Religions Chapter 2 Hebrew Laments in the Light of Mesopotamian Material Chapter 3 Professor Geo Widengren, IAHR Vice-President 1950–1960, IAHR President 1960–1970, IAHR Honorary Life Member 1996 Part 2 Iranian Cultures, Languages and Religions Chapter 4 Geo Widengren and the Study of Iranian Religion Chapter 5 The Eclipse of Geo Widengren in the Study of Iranian Religions Chapter 6 “King and Saviour”: Geo Widengren’s Early Contributions (1938–1955) to the History of Iranian Religions Part 3 A Phenomenological Approach Chapter 7 Geo Widengren and Swedish Phenomenology of Religion versus Italian Comparative Historical Typology Chapter 8 The World of Religion: A Reevaluation of Geo Widengren’s Phenomenology of Religion Part 4 Method, Criticism and a Public Intellectual Chapter 9 The Reception and Criticism of Geo Widengren in the Nordic Countries: The Debate over the Origin of Religion Chapter 10 Before the Bible: Middle-Eastern Religions and the Origins of Christianity in the Works of Geo Widengren Chapter 11 Tor Andræ and Geo Widengren: Perspectives and Purposes of the Study of the History of Religions Chapter 12 Africa and America Revisited: A Critical Analysis of Widengren’s Comparative Method Part 5 Manichaeism and Gnosticism Chapter 13 Widengren, Gnosticism, and the Religionsgeschichtliche Schule Chapter 14 Geo Widengren and Manichaeism Part 6 Postscript Chapter 15 Geo Widengren as Researcher and Public Intellectual: A Meta-Reflection Appendix A Letters between Raffaele Pettazzoni and Geo Widengren (1948–1959) Appendix B Letters between Geo Widengren and Ugo Bianchi (1959–1970), including a letter by Helmer Ringgren Geo Widengren’s Bibliography Notes on Contributors General Index Index of Persons "Professor Geo Widengren (1907-1996), holder of the chair in History of Religions and Psychology of Religions at Uppsala University between 1940 and 1973, is one of Sweden's best-known scholars in the field of religious studies. His involvement in the start of the IAHR and publications on topics such as the phenomenology of religions, Iranian studies and Middle Eastern Religions make Widengren one of the founding fathers of the History of Religions as an academic discipline. This volume pays tribute to Widengren's academic achievements and critically discusses his work in light of the latest academic findings and research.Contributors are Daniel Andersson, Giovanni Casadio, Clemens Cavallin, Göran Eidevall, Satoko Fujiwara, René Gothóni, Jan Hjärpe, Christer Hedin, Anders Hultgård, Tim Jensen, Albert de Jong, Einar Thomassen, Mihaela Timus, Chiara Ombretta Tommasi"-- Page 4 de la couverture "Professor Geo Widengren (1907-1996), holder of the chair in History of Religions and Psychology of Religions at Uppsala University between 1940 and 1973, is one of Sweden's best-known scholars in the field of religious studies. His involvement in the start of the IAHR and publications on topics such as the phenomenology of religions, Iranian studies and Middle Eastern Religions make Widengren one of the founding fathers of the History of Religions as an academic discipline. This volume pays tribute to Widengren's academic achievements and critically discusses his work in light of the latest academic findings and research.Contributors are Daniel Andersson, Giovanni Casadio, Clemens Cavallin, Göran Eidevall, Satoko Fujiwara, René Gothóni, Jan Hjärpe, Christer Hedin, Anders Hultgård, Tim Jensen, Albert de Jong, Einar Thomassen, Mihaela Timus, Chiara Ombretta Tommasi"-- Provided by publisher.