An unnatural history of religions: academia, post-truth, and the quest for scientific knowledge

An Unnatural History of Religions examines the origins, development, and critical issues concerning the history of religion and its relationship with science. The book explores the ideological biases, logical fallacies, and unwarranted beliefs that surround the scientific foundations (or lack thereo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ambasciano, Leonardo (Author)
Format: Print Book
Language:English
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Published: London New York Oxford New Delhi Sydney Bloomsbury Academic 2019
In:Year: 2019
Series/Journal:Scientific studies of religion inquiry and explanation
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B History of religion studies (Subject) / Science of Religion / Scientific nature
RelBib Classification:AA Study of religion
Further subjects:B Religion Historiography
B Religion and science
Online Access: Table of Contents
Blurb
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Erscheint auch als: 978-1-350-06240-5
Erscheint auch als: 978-1-350-06239-9
Description
Summary:An Unnatural History of Religions examines the origins, development, and critical issues concerning the history of religion and its relationship with science. The book explores the ideological biases, logical fallacies, and unwarranted beliefs that surround the scientific foundations (or lack thereof) in the academic discipline of the history of religions, positioning them in today's 'post-truth' culture. Leonardo Ambasciano provides the necessary critical background to evaluate the most important theories and working concepts dedicated to the explanation of the historical developments of religion and covers the most important topics and paradigm shifts in the field, such as phenomenology, poststructuralism, and cognitive science. These are taken into consideration chronologically, each time with case studies on topics such as shamanism, gender biases, ethnocentrism, and biological evolution. Ambasciano argues that the roots of post truth may be deep in human biases, but that historical justifications change each time, resulting in different combinations. The surprising rise of once-fringe beliefs, such as conspiracy theories, pseudoscientific claims, and so-called scientific creationism, demonstrates the alarming influence that post-truth ideas may exert on both politics and society. Recognising them before they spread anew may be the first step towards a scientifically renewed study of religion"--
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 191-232
ISBN:1350062383