Russell T. McCutcheon is University Research Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, USA.
"""If you find yourself teaching a course on the study of religion or need to get a brief history and recent thinking on the subject, this expanded edition of Studying Religion has you in mind. Russell McCutcheon has added to each of the core chapters a follow-up example, which works great as a case study for the classroom, as well as short sections on further considerations and scholarly criticisms. One of my favourite examples is the case of Nix v Hedden, on whether a tomato is a vegetable for the purpose of taxation. This leads us to reflect on how we might classify something as ‘religion’ or ‘a church’ (in another example provided in this volume). Therefore, there is much to stimulate the reader and to employ in the classroom. McCutcheon has written this by keeping in mind the needs of both his colleagues and students, but with a greater international awareness. As previously, this edition also includes a glossary, with additional terms such as ‘Identity’ and ‘Nones’, and a sizeable section on a selection of scholars and their views on religion. Further additions include the influence of colonialism and the World Religions Paradigm on how we categorise religion. This book is both practical and, as Lévi-Strauss might say, good to think with."" Suzanne Owen, Leeds Trinity University, UK. ‘If you find yourself teaching a course on the study of religion or need to get a brief history and recent thinking on the subject, this expanded edition of Studying Religion has you in mind. This book is both practical and, as Lévi-Strauss might say, good to think with.’ - Suzanne Owen, Leeds Trinity University, UK ""Those who want to explore religion as part of culture should start here."" - Matthew Recla, Boise State University, USA, Reading Religion"