Religion in the making
Subtitle: the emergence of the sciences of religion
By: edited by Arie L. Molendijk and Peter Pels.
Contributors: Molendijk, Arie L.; Pels, Peter.
Series: Studies in the history of religions,; v. 80; Studies in the history of religions ;; 80.
Publisher: Brill
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Leiden; Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 318
Subjects: Religion -- Philosophy -- History -- 19th century.; Religion -- Study and teaching -- History -- 19th century.; Religion -- Philosophy -- History -- 20th century.; Religion -- Study and teaching -- History -- 20th century.
Description: This volume explores the ways in which religion became the object of scientific research in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Most obvious is the development of an increasingly autonomous science of religion (with founding fathers like Max Muller and C. P. Tiele). However, within anthropology (Tylor, Frazer), sociology (Durkheim, Max Weber), and psychology (William James), religion also came to be seen as a separate entity to be studied comparatively.

To capture this wide field this book focuses on the emergence of the discourse on religion in a broad academic context, among different disciplines. The emphasis is on general socio-historical developments, rather than on individual biographies.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Papers from a conference held May 22-24, 1997 at the University of Amsterdam.