This book is very rich in ethnographic details ... [and] it is even richer in the numerous concepts alluded to, both traditional and modern ... This book is largely useful to undergraduates studying anthropology or religious studies, or someone, like myself, who needs a refresher in the area of ritual from this rather specialised point of view. But the interested lay person would certainly benefit too.
De Numine
Stewart and Strathern critically evaluate classical and newer thinking in ritual studies, from that of Tylor, Frazer, Harrison, and Radcliffe Brown, to that of Turner, Bourdieu, Bell, Rappaport, Whitehouse, and Laidlaw. In addition, they thoughtfully critique persistent themes, such as sacrifice, secrecy, habitus, cognition, embodiment, performance, and framing. Insight based on fieldwork, including the authors’ own, is proffered throughout. Overall, the elucidation is sharp and well-supported. Ritual: Key Concepts in Religion is a tremendous asset for the scholars and advanced students.
Margo Kitts, author of 'Sanctified Violence in Homeric Society' Ritual: Key Concepts in Religion provides an important, powerful and provocative advance in the study of ritual. Braiding together reflection on rituals in many places with cutting edge analysis, the authors demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of existing concepts. They make possible a greatly enriched performance of theorizing ritual.
Graham Harvey, The Open University, UK