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Adam's ancestors : race, religion, and the politics of human origins - David N. Livingstone
ISBN/ISSN: 0801888131
Traces the history of the idea of non-Adamic humanity, and the debates surrounding it, from the Middle Ages to the present day. From a multidisciplinary perspective, Livingstone examines how this alternative idea has been used for cultural, religious, and political purposes. He reveals how what began as biblical criticism became a theological apologetic to reconcile religion with science -- evolution in particular -- and was later used to support arguments for white supremacy and segregation. From heresy to orthodoxy, from radicalism to conservatism, from humanitarianism to racism, Adam's Ancestors tells an intriguing tale of twists and turns in the cultural politics surrounding the age-old question, "Where did we come from?"
The SAGE handbook of the sociology of religion - James A. Beckford, N.J. Demerath III (eds.)
ISBN/ISSN: 1412911958
At a time when religions are increasingly affecting, and affected by, life beyond the narrowly sacred sphere, religion everywhere seems to be caught up in change and conflict. In the midst of this contention and confusion, the sociology of religion provides a rich source of understanding and explanation. This Handbook presents an unprecedentedly comprehensive assessment of the field, both where it has been and where it is headed. Like its many distinguished contributors, its topics and their coverage are truly global in their reach.
South Asians and the dowry problem - Werner Menski (ed.)
ISBN/ISSN: 1858561418
Every year, thousands of young brides on the subcontinent are murdered, most often by burning, or are driven to suicide over dowry disputes. In some provinces it is virtually unknown; in others it is endemic. Among communities in the west, the affluent groups now spend vast sums on the daughters' dowries and on grand weddings, in efforts to enhance their social status. And cases of dowry deaths are being reported. Drawing on papers from three international conferences, this book reviews the law of dowry and the problems of its enforcement in India, its impact on Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK. It also reports on dowry and hypergamy among Gujeratis and the excesses of dowry giving among Sikhs in Britain. Solutions to the problem are being sought, but in the meantime young women die every day.

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Witchcraft and magic : contemporary North America - Helen A. Berger (ed.)
ISBN/ISSN: 0812219716
Magic, always part of the occult underground in North America, has experienced a resurgence since the 1960s. Although most contemporary magical religions have come from abroad, they have found fertile ground in which to develop in North America. Who are today's believers in Witchcraft and how do they worship? Alternative spiritual paths have increased the ranks of followers dramatically, particularly among well-educated middle-class individuals. Witchcraft and Magic conveys the richness of magical religious experiences found in today's culture, covering the continent of North America and the Caribbean.

These original essays survey current and historical issues pertinent to religions that incorporate magical or occult beliefs and practices, and they examine contemporary responses to these religions. The relationship between Witchcraft and Neopaganism is explored, as is their intersection with established groups practicing goddess worship. Recent years have seen the growth in New Age magic and Afro-Caribbean religions, and these developments are also addressed in this volume.

All the religions covered offer adherents an alternative worldview and rituals that are aimed at helping individuals redefine themselves and make their interactions with the environment more empowered. Many modern occult religions share an absence of dogma or central authority to determine orthodoxy, and have become a contemporary experience embracing modern concerns like feminism, environmentalism, civil rights, and gay rights. Afro-Caribbean religions such as Santería, Palo, and Curanderismo, which do have a more developed dogma and authority structure, offer their followers a religion steeped in African and Hispanic traditions. Responses to the growth of magical religions have varied, from acceptance to an unfounded concern about the growth of a satanic underground. And, as magical religions have flourished, increased interest has resulted in a growing commercialization, with its threat of trivialization.