Dead Religion and Contemporary Perspectives: Commending Mesopotamian Data to the Religious Studies Classroom

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Method & Theory in the Study of Religion

Department

Religious Studies

ISSN

0943-3058

Volume

19

DOI

10.1163/157006807X222550

First Page

121

Last Page

133

Publication Date

11-1-2007

Abstract

Ancient Mesopotamian religion offers an under-appreciated body of data to religious studies.Because Mesopotamian religion is ancient and dead, it poses no threat to modern religious con-victions. Students approach it with a curious antiquarian’s interest rather than a threatenedbeliever’s resistance and thus freely adopt through it critical concepts in the study of religion. Tisessay shows how Mesopotamian data can illustrate three such concepts. Moreover, it suggeststhat because Mesopotamian culture is geographically and chronologically proximate to thosethat produced the Bible and Quran, this data can provide a unique bridge to critical discussionsof the major monotheistic religions.

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