Books by Aaron W. Hughes

Looks at the concept of comparison in the study of religion.

This book provides a hard-hitting examination of the spiritual motivations, rhetorical moves, and political implications associated with apologetical discourses. It argues that what is at stake is relevance, and examines the consequences of engaging in mythopoesis as opposed to scholarship.

The aim of 'Theorizing Islam' is to explore the potential for a fuller, more honest and more sophisticated approach to both theory and methodology in the academic study of Islam.

Illustrates the range of theoretical and practical issues involved in defining Judaism for the purposes of comparative and historical studies. This book is divided into four overlapping sections that deal, in various ways, with the configuration of 'Judaism' and how this configuration relates to other historical and/or disciplinary contexts.

Rather than focus solely on theological concerns, this well-rounded introduction takes an expansive view of Islamic ideology, culture, and tradition, sourcing a range of historical, sociological, and literary perspectives. Neither overly critical nor apologetic, this book reflects the rich diversity of Muslim identities across the centuries and counters the unflattering, superficial portrayals of Islam that are shaping public discourse today.Aaron W. Hughes uniquely traces the development of Islam in relation to historical, intellectual, and cultural influences, enriching his narrative with the findings, debates, and methodologies of related disciplines, such as archaeology, history, and Near Eastern studies. Hughes's work challenges the dominance of traditional terms and concepts in religious studies, recasting religion as a set of social and cultural facts imagined, manipulated, and contested by various actors and groups over time. Making extensive use of contemporary identity theory, Hughes rethinks the teaching of Islam and religions in general and helps facilitate a more critical approach to Muslim sources. For readers seeking a non-theological, unbiased, and richly human portrait of Islam, as well as a strong grasp of Islamic study's major issues and debates, this textbook is a productive, progressive alternative to more classic surveys.

This volume covers the major traditions of thought from Philo to Levinas and, since Jewish philosophy has occurred in broader environments (e.g., Hellenistic Alexandria, Medieval Baghdad, Weimar Germany), non-Jewish thinkers who have had an important influence on Jewish philosophy are also included (e.g., Plotinus, Alfarabi, Heidegger).