Seven Theories of Religion

by Daniel L. Pals

Book Overview

Seven Theories of Religion introduces a sequence of "classic" attempts to explain religion scientifically, presenting each in brief outline and in non-technical language. It considers first the views of E.B. Tylor and James Frazer, two Victorian pioneers in anthropology and the comparative study of religion. It explores the controversial "reductionist" approaches of Freud, Marx, and Emile Durkheim, then explains the program of their most outspoken...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195087259
• ISBN13: 9780195087253
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.3" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

way underrated

Before reading further, please note that a new edition of this book, with expanded coverage of Max Weber, is out: "Eight Theories of Religion." I'm sure that my praise below applies to that book as well; however, you certainly want to get that one rather than this one! This is the best book I've read so far on the history of theories of religion. It's definitely the best introduction to the basic theories, kinds of theories, and theorists that I'm aware of. (The one book that might compare is Sharpe's history of comparative religion: I haven't read it and you might check it out in addition to this one.) Actually, I don't think this could be done much better, aside from including more theorists. Pals covers each theorist in adequate depth; he's fair and charitable, yet he presents the common criticisms of the theories with equal fairness. Besides that, the "Further Reading" sections and notes are very helpful to enthusiastic students. The binding is tough. The index isn't as helpful as it could be: the footnotes and further readings are not included. But relative to the quality of the book as a whole, that's a minor point. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the academic study of religion; and very strongly to students majoring in religion. After this book, I suggest looking at Kippenberg's "Discovering Religious History in the Modern Age," which is excellent, and of course at Sharpe's book I mentioned earlier.

Excellent

This is a very good, even-handed look at some of the great thinkers of the last 150 years, and what they thought about the phenomenon of religion, whether Judaism, Christianity, Taoism, polytheism, etc..These thinkers can be categorized as either "reductionist" or "non-reductionist." Tyler, Frazer, Freud, Marx, and Durkheim are reductionist. To Tyler and Frazer, religion can be reduced to "irrationality" or the "primitive mentality." Freud reduces religion to "neurosis." For Marx, religion is the "opium of the masses" and nothing more than a symptom of the "class struggle." Durkheim reduces religion to "the social"; that is, religion is society, society is religion.Eliade is non-reductionist. He thinks religion cannot be reduced to psychology, sociology, economics, theology or anything else, but has to be seen as something unique in its own right. Eliade studies myths and other phenomenon of religion, compares them, tries to find universal similarities.Evans-Pritchard and Geertz are also non-reductionist. But they don't try and "theorize" like Frazer or Eliade; they don't try to find the "origin" of religion. They are content to do in depth studies of particular culures.The History of Religion, anthropology, ethnology--these are all fuzzy sciences. The debate over what religion is, how it came to be in various cultures, whether or not it is needed or unneeded, whether or not it is rational or irrational or just a product of the "prelogical" mind--all this still rages on amongst anthropologists, ethnologist, pyschologists, sociologists, and historians of religion. The reductionists vs. the non-reductionists. Who will win?Overall, a good and fair-balanced read.

a great explanation of religion from several disciplines

This was used as the primary textbook for my senior seminar as a religion major in college. Pals provides a great introduction to the major theories of religion, which we then used to help us understand the primary writings of Freud, Eliade, Marx, Durkheim, Geertz and others. In the years since taking the class, this is one of the few books that I have recommended to a number of friends along the way who have been interested in learning more about religion from a philosophical/academic standpoint.

A very fine survey of recent theories of religion.

Daniel Pals' book presents a fine synthesis of western scholarly accounts of the origin of religion. The author narrates the details of each figure's life, summarizes and then analyzes their theories, and ends each section with a critique. He also does a fine job elucidating some of the larger issues surrounding the analysis of religion, such as reductionist versus nonreductionist approaches, and the sympathetic or hostile sentiments each figure brings to his theory. The book is readable, well-organized, and free of technical jargon. It would be a good book for students and interested laypersons. Charles B. Jones Assistant Professor Dept. of Religion and Religious Education Catholic University of America

Great Book

This is a very easy to read yet detailed discussion of some of the more prominent theories and thinkers on the subject of religion over the past several hundred years. Pals gives honest attention to the strengths and weaknesses of each theory and provides thoughtful critique of each. Most refreshing is his ability to look across many different disciplines for insight into the mystery of religion. The result is a book which emphasizes the value of religion without placing a judgment as to religion's validity. It is a book that should be read by both believers and skeptics