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African Religions: Symbol, Ritual, and Community 2/e

Benjamin C. Ray

Published September 1999 by Prentice Hall
Copyright 2000, 218 pp., Paper
ISBN: 0-13-082842-4
List Price:
$35.00

Inventory Status:
In-Stock
   
Summary

KEY BENEFITS: This book presents a portrait of African religious history framed in the religious themes common to the rest of the world. It looks at the traditional religions that provided the philosophical, religious, and ethical basis of African culture. KEY TOPIC: Focusing primarily on traditional African religions and their related myths, rituals, authorities , ethics , and artwork, the book also includes substantial treatment on nationalism, African Islam and Christianity. MARKET: For anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the relationship between African religion and culture.

Features

  • NEW - Source material—First-hand accounts written by African and non-African scholars depict contemporary religious situations.
    • Presents students with updated material. Ex.___

  • NEW - Improved ethnographic material—Mythic narratives and particular ceremonies explained in the context of everyday life.
    • Allows students to view African religions focusing on communities and people, rather than “systems” of beliefs and practices. Ex.___

  • NEW - Emphasis on Christian and Islamic ideas and practices—Representative of the contemporary religious situation.
    • Provides students with controversial topics for review and discussion. Ex.___

  • NEW - African art chapter—Looks at art as a religious expression.
    • Improves students' appreciation of a major component of African culture. Ex.___

  • Broad coverage of sub-Saharan Africa.
    • Exposes students repeatedly to a limited number of societies enabling them to achieve more in-depth study. Ex.___

  • Terminology drawn from religious history and anthropology.
    • Gives students a broader base of knowledge. Ex.___

  • Media resources and films on African religions—Listed, with distributors.
    • Introduces students to additional research material so that they can extend their understanding of the text material. Ex.___



Table of Contents



Introduction.


1. Creation and Origins.


2. Divinity and Humanity.


3. Ritual Expression and Control.


4. Religious Authorities.


5. Persons, Ancestors, and Ethics.


6. Art in the Cycle of Life.


7. African Islam.


8. African Christianity.


Conclusion.



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