India’s Religions: Perspectives from Sociology and History

The Oxford in India readings in sociology and social anthropology comprise a set of volumes, each on an important theme or sub-area within these disciplines. Along with authoritative introductions and sectional prefaces, each book brings together key essays that apprise readers of the current debates and developments within that area, with specific reference to India. The volumes act both as introductions to sociology and social anthropology and as essential reference works for students, teachers, and researchers. Religion occupies an important place in both the private and public domains in India. This book presents essays on India’s major religions as practised in everyday life. It views religion from ethnographic and historical perspectives rather than from a theological angle. Thoughtfully organized and integrated, the book opens with a discussion of the dimensions of religious plurality and the ideologies of religious pluralism. The editor characterizes religion as the processes of setting the sacred apart from the non-sacred, and bonding them together at a higher level. He further explores the construction and dynamism of religious traditions and points out that religious creativity is as important as tradition. Divided into six sections, the essays explore sacred places and performance, spiritual power, charisma, piety and passion, traditions of oral narratives and canonical texts, religious creativity and social change, and the inter-relationship between religion, politics, and society. The epilogue returns to the themes of interreligious conceptions and syncretism. This volume will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology social anthropology, religion, politics, and history.