We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

Request Exam Copy

Print Price: $89.99

Format:
Paperback
448 pp.
5.5" x 8.25"

ISBN-13:
9780190935085

Copyright Year:
2022

Imprint: OUP US


Ten Theories of Religion

Fourth Edition

Daniel Pals

Why do human beings believe in divinities? Why do some seek eternal life, while others seek escape from recurring lives? Why do the beliefs and behaviors we typically call "religious" so deeply affect the human personality and so subtly weave their way through human society?

Ideal as a supplementary text in introductory religion courses or as the main text in theory and method in religious studies or in sociology of religion courses, Ten Theories of Religion, Fourth Edition, offers an illuminating treatment of this controversial and fascinating subject.

Readership : Introductory religion students.

Reviews

  • "The strengths of the book include its logical and clear chapter organization and layout, the critical assessments of the work of the theorists provided at the conclusion of each chapter, and Pals' highly readable and engaging style of writing. The brief biographical sketches that open each chapter introduce readers to the lives of the theorists which helps to make their ideas more relatable by providing historical context."
    --Robert Stephens, Clemson University
  • "The text is readable and accessible to many students, including those with little social science background. Each chapter is well-organized and follows the same pattern. Pals presents each theory in the best possible light first, then presents balanced criticisms."
    --Henry Delcore, California State University, Fresno
  • "The strength is the author's writing style. Students are never sure which theorist the author prefers... because his presentation is objective and fair. It allows students to see the development of scholarly thinking about religious phenomena, highlighting the interdisciplinary character of the field."
    --Quinton Dixie, Purdue, Northeast

  • 'I appreciate the clarity of the author's writing, and his ability to convey abstract ideas in an accessible (but not overly simplistic) way. In presenting the theorists, Pals is sufficiently thorough without overestimating how much detail and depth a typical undergraduate can absorb."
    --Adrienne Ambrose, University of the Incarnate Word

Preface
Introduction
1. Animism and Magic: E.B. Tylor and J. G. Frazer
2. Religion and Personality: Sigmund Freud
3. Society as Sacred: Émile Durkheim
4. Religion as Alienation: Karl Marx
5. A Source of Social Action: Max Weber
6. The Verdict of Religious Experience: William James
7. The Reality of the Sacred: Mircea Eliade
8. Society's "Construct of the Heart": E. E. Evans-Pritchard
9. Religion as Cultural System: Clifford Geertz
10. Sexism and the Sacred: Mary Daly
Conclusion
Index

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Daniel L. Pals is Professor of Religious Studies and History at University of Miami. He is the author of Introducing Religion: Readings from the Classic Theorists (OUP, 2008).

Making Sense - Margot Northey
Invitation to World Religions - Jeffrey Brodd, Layne Little, Bradley Nystrom, Robert Platzner, Richard Shek and Erin Stiles
Religion - Kent Richter
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism - Max Weber
Translated with Commentary by Stephen Kalberg

Special Features

  • A consistent chapter structure: Each chapter presents biographical background, a discussion of key ideas, comparison with other theories, and main objections raised by critics, allowing for easy comparison and evaluation of theories
  • Clarity: Accessible presentation of difficult concepts
  • Flexibility: The chapters are connected by strong overarching framework but are designed to stand alone as necessary to fit instructors' needs
  • Ideal for use as a supplementary text in introductory religion courses or as the main text in theory, methods, and sociology of religion courses
  • Can be used as a stand-alone text or with Pals' companion reader, Introducing Religion