Books in the Religion in History, Society and Culture series

Focusing on recurring themes of transformation and duplicity in folklore, theology, and court and village practice, The Fox's Craft explores the meanings and uses of shapeshifter fox imagery in Japanese history.

The 19th century was a period of intense religious conflict across Europe. Zurich, one phase of this conflict was played out in a struggle over revisions to the ritual of baptism. In its analysis of the Zurich conflict, this title offers a strategy for understanding the links between theology, ritual and socio-politics.

Offering indispensable analysis of Las Abejas this ethnographic account crosses cultural, political and religious terrain to investigate the dynamics of identity construction and the creation of a syncretic identity of resistance.

Drawing upon linguistics, semiotics, anthropology and philosophy, as well as the history of religions, the author argues that mantras and other ritual discourses use rhetorical devices, including imitation, to construct the persuasive illusion of a "natural language", one with a direct and immediate connection to reality.

This book tells the complex story of Pittsburgh citizens' struggle to define and eliminate the problems plaguing their city during the Progressive Era.

Focusing on issues of interpretation, this book collects and translates a number of medieval mi'raj accounts. The study provides readers access to the documentation and translation of these lesser-known Arabic texts, and uncovers their role in building a meaningful, cohesive and coherent Muslim community in medieval times.

Presenting the Reformation from the viewpoint of ordinary Catholics torn between salvation and damnation, sovereign and pope and faith and social position, this study reveals the daily realities faced by ordinary believers and the clergy who attempted to provide realistic opportunities for Catholics to remain Catholic in Protestant England.

In South Asia, the period between 1100 and 1300 CE was a particularly prolific time for theorists from India's three main indigenous religions to articulate their views on the face-to-face gift encounter. This study explores the ethical and social implications of unilateral gifts of esteem.