Religion at Play

"• Is a powerful position a guarantee that a religion will continue? • Does God take sides in religious power struggles? • Can God survive religious exclusivity and diversity? • Is God migrating from "out there" to "in here"? • Is religion sustainable in the long run? In seeking answers to these questions, this book explores the possibilities afforded by playful religion. Religion has playful origins, but this aspect is forgotten as soon as institutional power becomes self-serving instead of subservient. Power changes the very essence of religion. Virtually all religions are distorted versions of a playful original. Institutionalization is religion's curse, not its blessing. Apparent success hides the failure of religion to be faithful to its original intent. Religion at Play looks beyond the limitations imposed on religion and encourages inclusivity and openness. André Droogers is Emeritus Professor of Cultural Anthropology at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. His other books include "Play and Power in Religion: Collected Essays" 2012 and with Anton van Harskamp "Methods for the Study of Religious Change: From Religious Studies to Worldview Studies" 2014. " 'Religion at Play' is a work of love, a passionate call for us to let imagination and openness guide religious experience. Visionary and movingly written, the book affirms people's capacity to thwart power and to make religious experience a vibrant element in more just world-making projects." João Biehl, author of "Vita". "In this book, a distinguished anthropologist of religion re-examines the relationship between power and play, asking whether the "ludic" makes the human animal lucid or ludicrous? Whatever we conclude, this generous and deeply personal essay is full of wisdom." Grace Davie, author of "Religion in Britain since 1945". " 'Religion at Play' combines creatively experiences in various continents in which he lived and rigorous scholarly research. A shift of perspective from a powerful to a playful religion is advocated. Thus, it also invites each reader to playfully venture that very same shift in relation to his or her assumptions regarding religion and life." Walter Altmann, author of "Luther and Liberation"."

Publisher -

Language - English

Paperback

Contributors

Author

Andre Droogers

Published Date -

ISBN - 9780718893965

Dimensions - 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.0 cm

Page Count - 186