The Promise of Salvation : A Theory of Religion

Why has religion persisted across the course of human history? Secularists have predicted the end of faith for a long time, but religions continue to attract followers. Meanwhile, scholars of religion have expanded their field to such an extent that we lack a basic framework for making sense of the chaos of religious phenomena. To remedy this state of affairs, Martin Riesebrodt here undertakes a task that is at once simple and monumental: to define, understand, and explain religion as a universal concept. Instead of propounding abstract theories, Riesebrodt concentrates on the concrete realities of worship, examining religious holidays, conversion stories, prophetic visions, and life-cycle events. In analyzing these practices, his scope is appropriately broad, taking into consideration traditions in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto. Ultimately, Riesebrodt argues, all religions promise to avert misfortune, help their followers manage crises, and bring both temporary blessings and eternal salvation. And, as The Promise of Salvation makes clear through abundant empirical evidence, religion will not disappear as long as these promises continue to help people cope with life. Contents ......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 1. Religion as Discourse: On the Critique of the Concept of Religion......Page 16 Modern Religious Discourses ......Page 18 The Indispensability of the Concept of Religion ......Page 20 On Discourse-Theory Criticism ......Page 22 On Postcolonial Criticism ......Page 27 On the Necessity of Analytical Concepts ......Page 30 From Language to Social Reference ......Page 34 2. Religion as Social Reference: On Justifying the Concept of Religion......Page 36 Demarcation ......Page 38 Superposition ......Page 45 Assimilation ......Page 46 The Politics of Religion ......Page 52 Travelers' Reports ......Page 57 Conclusions ......Page 59 3. Scholarly Imaginations of Religion......Page 61 Religion as a Divine Gift of Reason ......Page 62 Religion as an Experience of Revelation ......Page 63 Religion as Projection ......Page 69 Religion as Protoscience ......Page 71 Religion as Affect ......Page 72 Religion as a Function of the Brain ......Page 75 Religion as a Sacralized Society ......Page 77 Religion as an Interest in Salvation ......Page 80 Religion as a Commodity ......Page 83 Outlook ......Page 85 4. Religious Practice and the Promise of Salvation: Outline of a Theory of Religion......Page 86 Defining Religion ......Page 87 Understanding Religion ......Page 94 Explaining Religion ......Page 104 5. Averting Misfortune: General Religious Practices......Page 107 Religious Calendars ......Page 114 Life-Cycle Practices ......Page 123 Variable Practices ......Page 126 6. The Radical Quest for Salvation: The Practices of Religious Virtuosos......Page 137 On the Concept of Virtuosity ......Page 138 Shamans ......Page 144 Christians ......Page 146 Jews ......Page 152 Muslims ......Page 153 Buddhists ......Page 155 Japanese Virtuosos ......Page 158 Daoists ......Page 161 On the Logic of Virtuoso Practices ......Page 162 Conversion and Propaganda ......Page 164 Conversion Narratives ......Page 170 Reports of Enlightenment ......Page 175 Prophetic Promises ......Page 177 8. The Future of Religion......Page 184 On the Universality of Religion ......Page 185 Secularization, Disenchantment, and Deinstitutionalization ......Page 189 The Return and the Future of Religion ......Page 196 Notes ......Page 202 Bibliography ......Page 220 Index ......Page 238

Why has religion persisted across the course of human history? Secularists have predicted the end of faith for a long time, but religions continue to attract followers. Meanwhile, scholars of religion have expanded their field to such an extent that we lack a basic framework for making sense of the chaos of religious phenomena. To remedy this state of affairs, Martin Riesebrodt here undertakes a task that is at once simple and monumental: to define, understand, and explain religion as a universal concept.

 

Instead of propounding abstract theories, Riesebrodt concentrates on the concrete realities of worship, examining religious holidays, conversion stories, prophetic visions, and life-cycle events. In analyzing these practices, his scope is appropriately broad, taking into consideration traditions in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto. Ultimately, Riesebrodt argues, all religions promise to avert misfortune, help their followers manage crises, and bring both temporary blessings and eternal salvation. And, as The Promise of Salvation makes clear through abundant empirical evidence, religion will not disappear as long as these promises continue to help people cope with life.

Die Presse

Riesebrodt has worked small wonders and written a well crafted study of religion without lecturing and moralizing, clear and with a sure eye for verifiable facts. This has rarely happened since Eliade.-Die Presse, on the German edition

Religion as discourse: on the critique of the concept of religion Modern religious discourses The indispensability of the concept of religion On discourse-theory criticism On postcolonial criticism On the necessity of analytical concepts From language to social reference Religion as social reference: on justifying the concept of religion Demarcation Superimposition Assimilation The politics of religion Travelers' reports Conclusions Scholarly imaginations of religion Religion as a divine gift of reason Religion as an experience of revelation Religion as projection Religion as protoscience Religion as affect Religion as a function of the brain Religion as sacralized society Religion as an interest in salvation Religion as a commodity Outlook Religious practice and the promise of salvation: outline of a theory of religion Defining religion Understanding religion Explaining religion Averting misfortune: general religious practices Religious calendars Life-cycle practices Variable practices The radical quest for salvation: the practices of religious virtuosos On the concept of virtuosity Shamans Christians Jews Muslims Buddhists Japanese virtuosos Daoists On the logic of virtuoso practices Turning toward salvation: religious propaganda Conversion and propaganda Conversion narratives Reports of enlightenment Prophetic promises The future of religion On the universality of religion Secularization, disenchantment, and deinstitutionalization The return and the future of religion. "Why has religion persisted across the course of human history? Secularists have predicted the end of faith for a long time, but religions continue to attract followers. Meanwhile, scholars of religion have expanded their field to such an extent that we lack a basic framework for making sense of the chaos of religious phenomena. To remedy this state of affairs, Martin Riesebrodt here undertakes a task that is at once simple and monumental: to define, understand, and explain religion as a universal concept. Instead of propounding abstract theories, Riesebrodt concentrates on the concrete realities of worship, examining religious holidays, conversion stories, prophetic visions, and life-cycle events. In analyzing these practices, his scope is appropriately broad, taking into consideration traditions in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto. Ultimately, Riesebrodt argues, all religions promise to avert misfortune, help their followers manage crises, and bring both temporary blessings and eternal salvation. And, as The Promise of Salvation makes clear through abundant empirical evidence, religion will not disappear as long as these promises continue to help people cope with life"--Provided by publisher "Why has religion persisted across the course of human history? Secularists have predicted the end of faith for a long time, but religions continue to attract followers. Meanwhile, scholars of religion have expanded their field to such an extent that we lack a basic framework for making sense of the chaos of religious phenomena. To remedy this state of affairs, Martin Riesebrodt here undertakes a task that is at once simple and monumental: to define, understand, and explain religion as a universal concept." "Instead of propounding abstract theories, Riesebrodt concentrates on the concrete realities of worship, examining religious holidays, conversion stories, prophetic visions, and life-cycle events. In analyzing these practices, his scope is appropriately broad, taking into consideration traditions in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto. Ultimately, Riesebrodt argues, all religions promise to avert misfortune, help their followers manage crises, and bring both temporary blessings and eternal salvation. And, as The Promise of Salvation makes clear through abundant empirical evidence, religion will not disappear as long as these promises continue to help people cope with life"--Jacket