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Our Religious Studies series is broadly conceived to include analyses of particular aspects of a religious tradition; thematic comparative studies; and focused studies of religion and society in areas such as the arts, law, economics, the social sciences, and politics. 

Hindu Mission, Christian Mission: Soundings in Comparative Theology, by Reid B. Locklin, offers a new, interreligious approach to questions of mission and conversion, grounded in a close study of the Chinmaya Mission, Ramakrishna Mission and other movements associated with the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedānta.

"This book takes on a deeply contentious topic between Hindus and Christians—the phenomena of missionary activity and conversion—and addresses it with profound sensitivity and impressive scholarship. Locklin clearly shows that the conversion debate involves far more complexity and nuance than is typically manifested in its popular iterations (both Hindu and Christian), and both religious communities will be better off if they engage with the work that he has done here." — Jeffery D. Long, Elizabethtown College

"For people seeking to understand comparative Hindu and Christian missionary theology, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I can see it being particularly useful for courses in comparative religion, comparative theology, and world religions." — Varun Khanna, Swarthmore College

Now available in paperback, Wonder in South Asia: Histories, Aesthetics, Ethics, edited by Tulasi Srinivas, is a comparative study of wonder in South Asian religions.

"Exploring manifold manifestations and encounters of wonder in various regions and religions of South Asia, this volume refines scholarly engagement with wonder both as a theoretical category that expands our understanding of South Asian religion and as a meaningful, affective constituent of the religious and ethnographic experience. The strength of the collection lies in the breadth of its case studies, which range across the subcontinent, and its depth of application within each of the chapters." — Caleb Simmons, author of Singing the Goddess into Place: Locality, Myth, and Social Change in Chamundi of the Hill, a Kannada Folk Ballad

The Theology and Continental Thought series presents books where theology uses continental thought. This is a particularly vital conversation at the present time. While these schools of thought are often considered antithetical, many among the current generation of theologians have been trained in, and appreciate, continental thought. Increasingly those on the continental side have become interested in approaching some concept of God.

Now available in paperback, Religious Atheism: Twelve Philosophical Apostles, by Erik Meganck, calls into question the traditional polarity of theism and atheism.

"Erik Meganck is slowly but surely becoming an original voice in the field of continental philosophy of religion. His Religious Atheism offers fresh insights in classic atheist figures and novel interpretations of contemporary thinkers. The book will make for excellent course material but will also surprise seasoned readers within the field." — Joeri Schrijvers, author of Between Faith and Belief

The Chinese Philosophy and Culture series provides a broad consideration of Chinese philosophy and culture, encompassing both historical sinological research and more purely philosophical work. It covers material from early China to the modern period, and includes philosophy, religion, literature, the arts, and culture generally.

Unlocking the Chinese Gate: Manifestations of the Space "In-Between" in Early China, by Galia Dor, offers an innovative analysis of gates—as architectural components, visual images, and mental constructs—in early Chinese thought and material culture.

"If there is one object in Chinese civilization whose significance surpasses its physical presence, it is the gate. Architecturally, the gate is as varied in size and design as the structures it is associated with, while, in the sphere of religion, it is a physical and metaphorical icon. When it comes to philosophical discourses on the gate, Galia Dor breaks new ground with her reading of the gate as the in-between of the formed and formless. In her profoundly rich and sublimely gratifying work, Dor draws upon a wide spectrum of materials to reveal how the Chinese transformed the humble gate into one having 'psychocosmic' potential. Intertwining the fields of architecture, history, politics, religious studies, and philosophy, this book is a breathtaking example of cross-disciplinary scholarship, shedding new light on both the gate and early Chinese thought and material culture." — David Chai, author of Zhuangzi and the Becoming of Nothingness

Now available in paperback, Writing Early China, by Edward L. Shaughnessy, considers what unearthed documents reveal about the creation and transmission of knowledge in ancient China.

"By emphasizing the importance of writing, Shaughnessy presents a welcome complement to scholarship emphasizing the role of orality in early Chinese textual culture. There are few scholars as well-versed in newly discovered textual sources, including the Tsinghua and Anhui University collections. Shaughnessy introduces readers to important new texts, on some of which very little has so far been published in English, and he demonstrates and explains important methodological issues in studying these materials. This book will naturally attract students of early China, but it should also find interest much more broadly, both among historians of antiquity in other parts of the world as well as scholars specializing in other periods of Chinese history." — Matthias L. Richter, author of The Embodied Text: Establishing Textual Identity in Early Chinese Manuscripts

Happy reading and come back and see what's new next month!