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An Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-Truth and the Quest for Scientific Knowledge

by Leonardo Ambasciano

  • Hardback
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
  • 15.6 x 23.4 x 1.8 cm

£116.52

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An Unnatural History of Religions examines the origins, development, and critical issues concerning the history of religion and its relationship with science. The book explores the ideological biases, logical fallacies, and unwarranted beliefs that surround the scientific foundations (or lack thereof) in the academic discipline of the history of religions, positioning them in today's 'post-truth' culture.

Leonardo Ambasciano provides the necessary critical background to evaluate the most important theories and working concepts dedicated to the explanation of the historical developments of religion and covers the most important topics and paradigm shifts in the field, such as phenomenology, poststructuralism, and cognitive science. These are taken into consideration chronologically, each time with case studies on topics such as shamanism, gender biases, ethnocentrism, and biological evolution.

Ambasciano argues that the roots of post truth may be deep in human biases, but that historical justifications change each time, resulting in different combinations. The surprising rise of once-fringe beliefs, such as conspiracy theories, pseudoscientific claims, and so-called scientific creationism, demonstrates the alarming influence that post-truth ideas may exert on both politics and society. Recognising them before they spread anew may be the first step towards a scientifically renewed study of religion.

An Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-Truth and the Quest for Scientific Knowledge and An Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-truth and the Quest for Scientific Knowledge
An Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-truth and the Quest for Scientific KnowledgeAn Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-Truth and the Quest for Scientific Knowledge

  • Title

    An Unnatural History of Religions: Academia, Post-Truth and the Quest for Scientific Knowledge

  • Book Format

    Hardback

  • Publisher

    Bloomsbury Academic

  • Published

    December 2018

  • Weight

    523g

  • Dimensions

    15.6 x 23.4 x 1.8 cm

  • ISBN

    9781350062382

  • ISBN-10

    1350062383

  • Eden Code

    4735290

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