Contested Concepts in the Study of Religion

This book offers a clear, concise introduction to the meaning of problematic terms, and the ways in which they should legitimately be used. Each entry considers the following:

Why is this concept problematic?
What are the origins of the concept?
How is it used or misused, and by whom?
Is it still a legitimate concept in the study of religion and, if so, what are its legitimate uses?
Are there other concepts that are preferable when writing on religion?

Concepts covered include:

Belief
Religion
Magic
Secularisation
Violence

This is a jargon-free indispensable resource for students and scholars that encourages the critical use of terms in the study of religion.