Thinking About Religion: An Historical Introduction to Theories of Religion
"While Ivan Strenski's new book considers many of the key modern theorists of religion covered in other overviews of the modern study of religion, his is far more than a textbook. Here, as in his other works, he is a kind of academic private eye. He strives to figure out not merely what the theorists were saying but why. To answer the why, he investigates the personal and professional lives of his subjects. He shows that theories are attempts to answer broader questions about culture, society, and the mind. Not only the answers but even the questions reflect the circumstances of those who offer them. This book, written as lucidly as any mere textbook, wonderfully presents theories as part of intellectual history."Robert A. Segal, Lancaster University“Strenski … is to be commended for stimulating discussion about the introductory course ….He no doubt has been looking for the perfect Reader himself. And now he has it.”Journal of the American Academy of Religion<!--end-->“A major contribution and recommended reading along with the Reader.”Temenos