Tradition
ID: 2821 - View Book Page - Edit In OJS
TRADITION: A CRITICAL PRIMER offers a fresh exploration of the concept of tradition, moving beyond conventional definitions to uncover its deeper intersections with ideology, memory and social power. Rather than merely asking what tradition refers to, this book investigates how tradition functions as a dynamic force, linking and reflecting concepts such as authority, modernity, religion, ritual, and identity. Grounded in the study of religions, it draws from diverse theoretical perspectives—including decolonial, cognitive and hermeneutical approaches—and critically examines thinkers like Halbwachs, Gadamer and Morin.
With discussions spanning religious and cultural practices across the globe, and four case studies on topics such as Brazilian Candomblé and Indigenous traditions in Canadian law, the book highlights how tradition operates in a world marked by multiple modernities, post-colonial cultural identities, and ideological conflicts. Offering students and scholars alike a toolkit for understanding tradition as a living, contested, and ideologically charged concept, this work reframes tradition as a space where identity, power, and social transformation intersect.
Published: Oct 23, 2024
Series
| Section | Chapter | Authors |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | ||
| List of figures and text boxes | Steven Engler | |
| Notes on usage | Steven Engler | |
| Acknowledgements | Steven Engler | |
| Introduction | ||
| Introduction | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 1 | ||
| Talking Tradition | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 2 | ||
| Pure Tradition vs. History | Steven Engler | |
| Case Study 1: Traditionalism and the denial of historical truth | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 3 | ||
| Invention and Authority | Steven Engler | |
| Case Study 2: Normative tradition in Candomblé | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 4 | ||
| Tradition and Modernity | Steven Engler | |
| Case Study 3: Great and little traditions | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 5 | ||
| Agency and Reason | Steven Engler | |
| Case Study 4: Indigenous tradition and Canadian law | Steven Engler | |
| Chapter 6 | ||
| Key Thinkers of Tradition | Steven Engler | |
| Conclusion | ||
| Conclusion | Steven Engler | |
| End Matter | ||
| Further Reading | Steven Engler | |
| Bibliography | Steven Engler | |
| Index | Steven Engler | |