What is religion?

The question as to what religion is, will remain an important and vexing issue. This book which is a translation from the original German work by Theo Sundermeier, attempts to give a theological explanation as to what religion is. In the process several important phenomenological themes are addressed, making the book relevant to a wider audience. Other topics, such as syncretism, religious tolerance and evil in religion, are also addressed. The book consists of four parts: a Phenomenological perspective, a discussion on Constitutive elements in Religion, an overview of the Encounter of Religions and a discussion on the Science of Religion as an academic subject. The book is directed at a scholarly as well as lay audience. It promises to stimulate the debate on the nature of religion.

Autorentext

Jaco Beyers is a lecturer in the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). He obtained degrees from the University of Pretoria. He also studied in Europe at different Universities. He published several articles on different topics on the issue of religion.