Stereotyping Religion: Comparing Clichés, ed. Brad Stoddard and Craig Martin

Abstract

Stereotyping Religion is a collection of chapters aimed at dispelling popular clichés about religion in America arising primarily from the legacy of European liberalism, American Protestantism, and New Atheism. The primary intended audience is religious studies students in America (as well as religious studies professors looking for course readings). The goal of the book is to assist students and professors challenge assumptions about religion that they may have unquestioningly brought to the classroom with them – for instance, “religions are belief systems”, “religions are intrinsically violent”, or “religion makes people moral”. Each chapter is named after a cliché, making navigating the book easy. In a typical chapter, the author explains why the cliché is simplistic, how that cliché is used socially or politically, and the historical roots of the cliché. In practice, many of the themes (such as “religion is a private matter”) run through multiple chapters. While some chapters are more convincing than others, each chapter is at least likely to make the reader question their own assumptions and spur meaningful discussion.