The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft

This concise and accessible textbook introduces students to the anthropological study of religion. It examines religious expression from a cross-cultural perspective and exposes students to the complexities of religion in small-scale and complex societies. The chapters incorporate key theoretical concepts and a wide range of ethnographic material. The fifth edition of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft offers:

• a revised introduction covering the foundations of the anthropology of religion, anthropological methods, and a push toward decolonizing the anthropology of religion,

• expanded coverage of symbols, healing, wizardry, and the intersections of religion with other social institutions,

• new case study material with examples drawn from around the globe, especially from Indigenous communities,

• marginalia in each chapter introducing provocative small-case examples related to the chapter—many of these can be used as prompts for further research, small in-class case studies, or examples for hands-on learning,

• a new chapter on religion and healing, especially useful for Anthropology programs without representation of four fields, as it provides a wider and more interdisciplinary application of the discipline,

• a consistent review of foundations from chapter to chapter, linking material and enabling students to connect what they are learning throughout the course, and

• further resources via a comprehensive companion website, including interactive activities, critical case studies, updated study questions, bibliographical suggestions (including video), and color images.

This is an essential guide for students encountering the anthropology of religion for the first time and also for those with an ongoing interest in this fascinating field.

Author Biography

Rebecca L. Stein is Professor of Anthropology and Department Chair at Los Angeles Valley College, USA.

Philip L. Stein is Professor of Anthropology (Emeritus) at Los Angeles Pierce College, USA. He is a fellow of the American Anthropological Association and a past president of the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges.

Benjamin R. Kracht is Professor of Anthropology (Emeritus) at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He is the author of Kiowa Belief and Ritual (2017), Religious Revitalization among the Kiowas: The Ghost Dance, Peyote, and Christianity (2018), and other books. Kracht has worked with the Kiowas for over 40 years and, more recently, has conducted fieldwork in Belize and New Mexico.

Marjorie M. Snipes is Professor of Anthropology at University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia. She has done extensive research in the Argentine Andes, as well as smaller research projects on religious change in the USA. Among her publications are The Intellectual Legacy of Victor and Edith Turner (2018) with Frank Salamone and OpenStax Introduction to Anthropology (2022) with Jennifer Hasty and David Lewis.