Benson Saler is Professor of Anthropology at Brandeis University and a former Interim Vice PResident of the Anthropology of Religion Section of the American Anthropological Association. He has carried out ethnographic fieldwork in Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States. His current research is largely dircted to certain aspects of "popular culture" in the United States.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1. Abjuring a Definition and Other MattersChapter 2. Holding a Definition in Abeyance and a Case for a DefinitionChapter 3. Monothetic DefinitionsChapter 4. More on Monothetic DefinitionsChapter 5. Multi-factorial Approaches: Family Resemblance and PolythesisChapter 6. A Prototype ApproachChapter 7. Ethnocentrism and DistanciationReferences CitedIndex

"In this study, the author displays an astonishing knowledge of the field, an outstanding command of the literature and a most remarkable width of scope."  · The Journal of Indo-European Studies"... a timely and useful addition to current discussions on the topic."  · American Anthropologist"This is the best book on conceptualizing religion that I have come across for many years. All issues related to the definition of religion are dealt with extensively and in depth, without losing sight of the contribution of the author himself."  · Bijdragen, tijdschrift voor filosofie en theologie