<p>“At a time when public discussion of religion seems polarized between religious fundamentalists and hard secularists, who in their own way are equally fundamentalist, it is refreshing to have a book that reminds us that religion is not a kind of primitive and false scientific theory, but a kind of experience, the experience of self-transcendence. Joas’s reflections on religious experience and the ways it can be articulated are developed in dialogue with major contemporary thinkers such as Charles Taylor, Paul Ricoeur, and Jürgen Habermas. Open-minded and sensitive both to religious claims and to secular criticisms, Joas has made an enormous contribution to the serious discussion and understanding of religion.” <br />—Robert Bellah, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of California–Berkeley and coauthor of Habits of the Heart and The Good Society. <br /><br />“Joas offers a prescient collection of essays on the contemporary relevance of religion. … [He] is a clear writer, and the appeal of the topics discussed should hold the interest of any reader interested in the phenomenon of religion. Joas’s work deserves a large audience.” <br />—Anglican Theological Review </p>