Daniel L. Pals
Autor von Seven Theories of Religion
Über den Autor
Daniel L. Pals is Professor of Religious studies and History at the University of Miami. He is the author of Introducing Religion: Readings from the Classic Theorists (OUP, 2008).
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compares theories about the origin and meaning of religion
This is a challenging read, Freud's theory is still shocking even for today's secular culture. I find Pals' analysis (and critique) at the end of each chapter very helpful.
This is a challenging read, Freud's theory is still shocking even for today's secular culture. I find Pals' analysis (and critique) at the end of each chapter very helpful.
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Daniel L. Pals was Professor of Religious Studies and History at the University of Miami, Florida when he wrote this book. It has since been superseded by a more recent publication, [b:Ten Theories of Religion|57715974|Ten Theories of Religion|Daniel Pals|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620709221l/57715974._SY75_.jpg|90399606], which includes the work of Mary Daly, the American radical feminist philosopher and theologian.
I read this book out of a growing interest in the 'bigger picture' of religion, and I have to admit with something of an agenda. I had already read William James's [b:The Varieties of Religious Experience|25449467|The Varieties of Religious Experience|William James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1430310626l/25449467._SY75_.jpg|1751058] and this whetted my appetite for a greater understanding of other theories of religion.
I approached this as a person of faith with the view that surely religion has some inherent value, purpose, and meaning, and therefore as such a benefit to humankind. Of course this runs contrary to all of the reductionist claims of atheists, but I can't help but intuit that the attempts by many in the West to dispense with religion are narrow minded, maybe even a sign of a culture in decline.
In that regard I found the book engaging and helpful, covering as it does the nine predominant theories of religion taken from work by thinkers in the fields of anthropology, sociology, and psychology. I believe it will even help me to discern the difference between 'helpful' and 'unhelpful' religion.
Pals writes in an easy to understand and accessible style. Each theory is covered within a chapter, in which Pals explains the life and background of each of the theorists before providing an overview of their theories. He then goes on to give an analysis of the key points together with a critique and summary. Each chapter concludes with a detailed bibliography.
Overall then as I see it a well written, useful and informative book.… (mehr)