Key Terms in Material Religion

"Material Religion" has developed over the past decade from a curious term to a respected way of thinking about subjects in religious studies. Key Terms in Material Religion provides a conceptual map for students new to the field. Written with students in mind, each entry is accompanied by a color image which is discussed - an object, practice, space or site. The entries cut across geographies, histories, and traditions, offering a versatile and engaging text for the classroom. The 40 key topics covered include: - Icon, ritual, magic, gender - Sacred, spirit, technology, transcendence - Space, belief, body, brain Each entry demonstrates in clear and jargon-free prose how the key term figures prominently in understanding the materiality of religion. Written by international leading scholars, all entries are linked by the ways materiality stands at the forefront of the understanding of religion, whether that comes from humanistic, social scientific, artistic, curatorial, or other perspectives. S. Brent Plate brings his expertise his extensive teaching experience to the comprehensive introduction which introduces students to the methodology. Key Terms in Material Religion provide a much-needed resource for courses on theory and method in religious studies, the anthropology of religion, and the ever-increasing number of courses focused on material religion.