SCM Core Text: Religious Syncretism

Eric Maroney teaches at Cornell University, New York.

'The book shows that folk beliefs and practices, as distinct from official teachings and practices, are crucial in understanding a religion, particularly as it is lived and practiced by its adherents ... the book presents the challenges of developing a more open and appreciative attitude toward the religious other since the discussion raises the question of mutual enrichment ... The book's argument offers a compelling case for a more dialogical relationship not only among the Abrahamic religions but with paganism as well ... The book serves as an insightful introductory textbook on syncretism. Written as a textbook and geared for the general audience, one finds at the end of each chapter a list of questions that serve as a jumping board for class discussion and suggestions for reading that further explore the various issues that are tackled in the chapter development. The bibliography at the end of the book can also be a helpful tool in delving deeper ...' Reviews in Religion and Theology "The teacher who uses this book in a course... has a great opportunity here to bring history to life and to show nuances concerning religious stereotypes which are not based on historic fact." Tijdschrift voor Theologie, (Journal for Theology) 2008: 48, 117 "The SCM Core Text Religious Syncretism provides a persuasive account of the principle that syncretism is an important and widespread expression of religious belief and practice. Each chapter concludes with a useful summary and questions that might be considered for seminar or class discussion... there is much to commend the book. Those of us who work in education can be accustomed to think of religion in terms of creeds and doctrines and to teach the subject along those lines. Such an approach is to ignore the importance of syncretistic experience as a defining factor in religion." Elliot Shaw, Senior Lecturer, Religious Education at St. Martin's College, in the journal "World Religions in Education" XXVIII, 2007-8 'The book shows that folk beliefs and practices, as distinct from official teachings and practices, are crucial in understanding a religion, particularly as it is lived and practiced by its adherents ... the book presents the challenges of developing a more open and appreciative attitude toward the religious other since the discussion raises the question of mutual enrichment ... The book's argument offers a compelling case for a more dialogical relationship not only among the Abrahamic religions but with paganism as well ... The book serves as an insightful introductory textbook on syncretism. Written as a textbook and geared for the general audience, one finds at the end of each chapter a list of questions that serve as a jumping board for class discussion and suggestions for reading that further explore the various issues that are tackled in the chapter development. The bibliography at the end of the book can also be a helpful tool in delving deeper ...' Reviews in Religion and Theology "The teacher who uses this book in a course... has a great opportunity here to bring history to life and to show nuances concerning religious stereotypes which are not based on historic fact." Tijdschrift voor Theologie, (Journal for Theology) 2008: 48, 117 "The SCM Core Text Religious Syncretism provides a persuasive account of the principle that syncretism is an important and widespread expression of religious belief and practice. Each chapter concludes with a useful summary and questions that might be considered for seminar or class discussion... there is much to commend the book. Those of us who work in education can be accustomed to think of religion in terms of creeds and doctrines and to teach the subject along those lines. Such an approach is to ignore the importance of syncretistic experience as a defining factor in religion." Elliot Shaw, Senior Lecturer, Religious Education at St. Martin's College, in the journal "World Religions in Education" XXVIII, 2007-8 'The book shows that folk beliefs and practices, as distinct from official teachings and practices, are crucial in understanding a religion, particularly as it is lived and practiced by its adherents ... the book presents the challenges of developing a more open and appreciative attitude toward the religious other since the discussion raises the question of mutual enrichment ... The book's argument offers a compelling case for a more dialogical relationship not only among the Abrahamic religions but with paganism as well ... The book serves as an insightful introductory textbook on syncretism. Written as a textbook and geared for the general audience, one finds at the end of each chapter a list of questions that serve as a jumping board for class discussion and suggestions for reading that further explore the various issues that are tackled in the chapter development. The bibliography at the end of the book can also be a helpful tool in delving deeper ...' Reviews in Religion and Theology "The teacher who uses this book in a course... has a great opportunity here to bring history to life and to show nuances concerning religious stereotypes which are not based on historic fact." Tijdschrift voor Theologie, (Journal for Theology) 2008: 48, 117 "The SCM Core Text Religious Syncretism provides a persuasive account of the principle that syncretism is an important and widespread expression of religious belief and practice. Each chapter concludes with a useful summary and questions that might be considered for seminar or class discussion... there is much to commend the book. Those of us who work in education can be accustomed to think of religion in terms of creeds and doctrines and to teach the subject along those lines. Such an approach is to ignore the importance of syncretistic experience as a defining factor in religion." Elliot Shaw, Senior Lecturer, Religious Education at St. Martin's College, in the journal "World Religions in Education" XXVIII, 2007-8