The Promise of Salvation

A Theory of Religion

By: Martin Riesebrodt, Steven Rendall (Translator)

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Hardcover | 1 March 2010 | Edition Number 1

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Hardcover
248 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.35 x 1.63 x 0.21

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Why has religion persisted across the course of human history? Secularists have predicted the end of faith for a long time, but religions continue to attract followers. Meanwhile, scholars of religion have expanded their field to such an extent that we lack a basic framework for making sense of the chaos of religious phenomena. To remedy this state of affairs, Martin Riesebrodt here undertakes a task that is at once simple and monumental: to define, understand, and explain religion as a universal concept. Instead of propounding abstract theories, Riesebrodt concentrates on the concrete realities of worship, examining religious holidays, conversion stories, prophetic visions, and life-cycle events. In analyzing these practices, his scope is appropriately broad, taking into consideration traditions in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shinto. Ultimately, Riesebrodt argues, all religions promise to avert misfortune, help their followers manage crises, and bring both temporary blessings and eternal salvation. And, as "The Promise of Salvation" makes clear through abundant empirical evidence, religion will not disappear as long as these promises continue to help people cope with life.

Industry Reviews

"Riesebrodt aims at nothing less than a self-contained theory of religion. This erudite scholar achieves his goal to 'cognitively structure, understand, and explain' the jumble of religious experience with fascinating theoretical aplomb." - Friedrich Wilhelm Graf, author of The Return of the Gods, on the German edition"

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