Reviews for Sociology And The World's Religions

The average rating for Sociology And The World's Religions based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2007-07-10 00:00:00 Bruce Clayton This is a scholarly and helpful volume on its subject. It is detailed, well-written, and intriguing. However, I found the structure surprising. After just a short introduction to religion in Africa before 600 C.E., it very quickly moves on to detailed chapters about the presence and syncretism of Islam and Christianity in Africa and its extant religions. This seems to minimize the importance and primacy of African Indigenous Religions, even during/despite the advances of Islam and Christianity. However, the book finishes with a strong section on various aspects of Africa's indigenous traditions, which I think are the most helpful aspect of the book. On a minor note, it describes these latter chapters as consisting of "case studies," but really they are short descriptions from various tribal cultures. Still, I deeply appreciate the author not generalizing about "Africa's religions" and instead discussing specific examples from particular tribes.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-06-09 00:00:00 Thomas Savignano An interesting undertaking for sure. The first half or so of the book was really interesting, but as he shifted from talking about mystics to more modern philosophers and authors, I got less interested. The book could be subtitled "Losing the Holy in the Holy Spirit". I second another reviewers experience of having difficulty following the last quarter or so of the book when he talks more about Hegel, Nietzsche and James Joyce.