Religions in Practice

John R. Bowen is Dunbar-Van Cleve Professor in Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, USA. His research focuses on comparative social studies of Islam across the world.

• Part One: Theories and Authority1. Studying religion through practice2. Social theory and the anthropology of religion3. Authority and centralization 4. States, secularisms and religionsPart Two: Materialities and Morality5. Meanings and materiality6. Material transformations in Catholicism 7. Transatlantic religions 8. Embodiment and materiality in healing9. Embodied harmfulness 10. Boundaries: shaping time, space, and selvesPart Three: Languages and Movement11. Speech and Grace in Protestantism12. Revelation and Authority in Islam13. Virtual religion14. Migration and diaspora15. Religious mobilizing

Praise for the sixth edition:“Bowen's Religions in Practice provides a very compelling introduction to the anthropology of religion, integrating theoretical discussions with ethnographic material from a wide range of societies, especially Islam in its diverse manifestations. While covering traditional topics like magic, witchcraft, and spiritual healing, the book also breaks new ground by covering ultra-contemporary political issues like migration, nationalism, transnationalism, law, and secularism.”- Sean O'Neill, University of Oklahoma “An excellent introduction to Anthropology of Religion. It lays out the issues clearly, describes different theoretical approaches, and illustrates its points with lots of examples.”- Mark Webb, Texas Tech University “An eclectic book build around the practice of the world religions.”- Derrick Lemons, the University of Georgia “Its coverage of a range of issues and phenomena is first-rate. A thorough and very useful textbook, with particularly helpful attention to theory, method, and non-Western religious phenomena.”- James Findlay, California State University Northridge “Clear, anthropologically oriented discussion of the study of religion”- Eric Rovie, Georgia Perimeter College-Newton Campus “It is a clearly written, comprehensive text on the anthropology of religion that focuses primarily on religion as practice rather than as a belief system. It is current and includes important topics relevant to the modern situation. It is well-balanced in terms of the presentation of theory/concepts and case examples.”- Frances Purifoy, University of Louisville