Interpreting The Sacred: Ways of Viewing Religion
Paden ( Religious Words , LJ 12/88) examines how social anthropologists, depth psychologists, comparative religionists, and religious people (especially Christians) interpret religion. An individual's interpretation is influenced by his or her worldview, audience, and object under analysis (e.g., ritual). By being aware of different interpretations, one's own is supplemented without being supplanted--this is an advantage of religious pluralism's "relativity." Paden does not share his faith, despite the claim that if he did readers would better understand his views. This scholarly work is clearly written yet assumes some prior study of religion. This is one of a few excellent books about the subject. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.- Steven A. Fondiller, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, N.Y.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.