Essays on Religion (Monograph Series (Society for the Scientific Study of Religion), No. 10) [Hardcover]

Horst Jurgen Helle (Author)

Book Description

Series: Monograph Series (Society for the Scientific Study of Religion), No. 10 | Publication Date: January 31, 1997

The German sociologist and philosopher Georg Simmel wrote a number of essays that deal directly with religion as a fundamental process in human life. These essays set forth Simmel's mature reflections on religion and its relation to modernity, personality, art, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and science. They also include his views on methods in the study of religion and his thoughts on achieving a broader perspective on religion. Originally published between 1898 and 1918, during the last 20 years of Simmel's life, the essays are collected here in English for the first time. The essays provide a picture of the development of the characteristic doctrines of Simmel's thought as applied to religion, based on phenomenological analysis of human experience that emphasises the subjective dimensions of life. The collection shows that Simmel was interested less in the forms that religions take than in what he calls a "particular spiritual quality" or "attitude of the soul" - a feeling of religiousness that precedes the forms of religion and may later by projected onto them. Viewing religion as primarily a quality of social relationships that can be analyzed in various contexts, Simmel makes a contribution to the sociological analysis of religion, as well as offering insights for scientific consideration.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (January 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300061102
• ISBN-13: 978-0300061109
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,196,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Religion and modern life!, August 22, 2003

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Spyros Gangas (Athens, Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essays on Religion (Monograph Series (Society for the Scientific Study of Religion), No. 10) (Hardcover)

The revival in Simmel scholarship that started in the early 1990s continues with this very fine collection of Simmel's lesser known essays on religion. Here, one will find Simmel at his very best where the impressionist style does not abstract from the complexity of the issues which he deals with. Such issues include the relationship between the 'religious' and 'scientific' paradigms, various aspects of religious art (an excellent piece on Rembrandt among others), and the relationship and relevance of religion to modern life. Simmel's argument is difficult to organize into a system with clear contours; nevertheless, the argument proceeds with admirable dialectical subtlety capturing as many sides as possible of the concept of God and its relevance for the social. One of the most impressive essays is "The Personality of God" where Simmel develops within the context of modern individualism the notion of pantheism and how it may, or may not contain all aspects of reality. Simmel's concern on this issue betrays his 'flirt' with a notion of pantheistic monism which does not exclude pluralism or 'difference', as he inherits it from Spinoza and Hegel. The translation is excellent doing justice to the German original and the volume includes a short but enlightening introduction by the editors. Very enjoyable and mind-blowing stuff!