Focusing on a spatial analysis of religious-secular relations, this book presents a fresh perspective on the study of religion in the West. It examines how religion interacts with social, cultural, and physical spaces today, utilizing contemporary spatial theory, particularly insights from Henri Lefebvre. This innovative approach aims to deepen the understanding of religion's role and presence in modern society.
The book presents a spatial analysis of religious-secular relations. It locates religion within the social, cultural, and physical spaces of the present using a method informed by contemporary spatial theory, particularly the work of Henri Lefebvre.
In this Very Short Introduction, Kim Knott combines a succinct and authoritative overview of a major religion with an analysis of the challenges facing it in the twentieth century. She discusses key preoccupations of Hinduism such as the centrality of the Veda as religious texts, the role of brahmins, gurus, and storytellers in the transmission of divine truths, and the importance of epics such as the Ramayana. Issues such as the place of women and dalits (untouchables) in contemporary society are also addressed, making this book stimulating reading for Hindus and non-Hindus alike.