More Than Belief: A Materialist Theory of Religion

Recently, developments in social theory have begun to transform the study of religion. In this book, Manuel Vasquez maps out the dynamics of this paradigm shift, exploring systematically the epistemological and methodological challenges contemporary social theory poses for traditional approaches to religious studies. Offering a panoramic view of key debates on identity, culture, and society across the social sciences, he assesses the impact of these debates onthe study of religion, offering specific examples of how they are shaping the study of particular religious traditions.