religion
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The anthropology of religion has interested me since I was introduced to the subject at San Jose State University in 2011. I have put together a free recommended reading list featuring some of my favorite books on religion, ritual, myth, symbolism, and culture. I hope it provides a useful starting point for anyone interested in…
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Jeremy Holtom has written a fascinating essay in The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible relating to Mohandas K. Gandhi’s view of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Holtom begins his article by quoting Martin Luther King Jr. and his reverence for Gandhi. King states, “Just with a little love and understanding and…
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Christianity and Jainism Two religious traditions that are rarely compared are Christianity and Jainism. In this post, I will not speculate or argue that one tradition directly influenced the other. While there is no clear historical evidence that Jesus was directly influenced by Jain teachings, and Mahavira lived centuries before the emergence of Christianity, I…
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Assumptions about a person’s religious background can be prompted by societal trends and religious data. However, these assumptions still warrant further investigation. Some of these assumptions are based on broader societal trends, at least in the United States. A Pew Research Center report found that 43 percent of Hispanic adults identify as Catholic. Catholics remain…
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I recall many years ago my aunt told me, “Football in Texas is like religion.” Could football or fans’ devotion to football be considered like a religion in some ways? Could this be seen as cultic devotion similar to cults or other forms of organized religion in the world? It is possible that devotion to…
Triggered to Thinking 