Representing Religion: History, Theory, Crisis

If religion is continually in a state of flux how can the study of religion critically examine contemporary religious beliefs and values? ’Representing Religion’ critically examines this ＂crisis of representation＂. The volume traces the history of religious studies, critiquing the concept that ＂experience＂ is central to understanding religion. The views of influential semioticians and philosophers - notably Nietzsche, Saussure, Foucault, Barthes, and Bakhtin - are used to construct a new methodology for the critical study of religion. Representing Religion will be of interest to students and scholars of semiotics as well as theory and method in religious studies.

Tim Murphy was Assistant Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Alabama.