In search of the sacred
Book Description
Clinton Bennett invites readers on a fascinating journey through the intertwined histories of two pivotal fields that have shaped our understanding of the sacred. This thoughtful exploration reveals how anthropology and religious studies emerged from the intellectual ferment of the nineteenth century, evolving from distant academic observations into deeply engaged human conversations.
Through the lens of influential thinkers like James George Frazer, F. Max Muller, Emile Durkheim, Mary Douglas, and Clifford Geertz, Bennett illuminates a profound transformation in scholarly approach. Where researchers once maintained clinical detachment from their subjects, they now embrace personal engagement and authentic dialogue. This shift from text-based analysis to people-centered understanding has revolutionized how we explore sacred traditions and spiritual practices across cultures.
The book examines how these two disciplines have enriched each other, sharing methodologies and insights that deepen our comprehension of religious experience. Bennett doesn't shy away from difficult questions, addressing criticisms that academic study of religion may have inadvertently supported colonial power structures.
For readers seeking to understand how scholarly inquiry into the sacred has evolved, this work offers valuable perspective on the ongoing conversation between academic rigor and respectful engagement with living spiritual traditions. Bennett demonstrates how the search for the sacred continues to transform both the seekers and the sought.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~6 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Comparative Religion
📄 Length: 218 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE
- ✓ Explore Aspect religieux
- ✓ Explore Sacré
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Ethnology
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Godsdienstwetenschap
- ✓ Explore Culturele antropologie
- ✓ Explore Religion, study and teaching
