Ritual and Religious Belief A Reader (Critical Categories in the Study of Religion)

"This Reader brings together material that illustrates the problem of ritual as a type of religious behaviour, in relation to belief and thought, and as "vain repetition." "The material presented here seeks an understanding of ritual as performances that may have a logic different to "belief" or as actions that are not meant to be understood. The contributors discuss recent questions about the fluid performance of all identities and the inherent permeability of critical categories such as ritual. An introduction to the various debates is also provided."--Jacket.