The state, the gods and the imagination; or, David Graeber as a theorist of religion

Bibliographic Data

ID3143258
AuthorsWilliam Arnal (0009-0002-0813-2342, University of Regina, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume53
Issue3
Pages336-349
Publication date2024-09-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-4298 • E-ISSN: 2042-0587
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00084298231201980
OpenAlexW4388023414
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited14

This short article suggests that the writings of the recently deceased anthropologist David Graeber have a great deal to contribute to the study of religion. Drawing from a wide array of works by Graeber and his collaborators, the article sketches out his basic social theory, focusing on his insistence on the creative dimension of human social activity. It then focuses on the relevance of religion - specifically, the fabrication and modification of 'metahuman persons' - for the creation of new social forms. Finally, the implications of this theoretical framework are sketched out - that is, that the study of religion should focus on its creative and imaginative aspects

Aesthetics · Dimension (graph theory · Epistemology · Focus (optics · Physics · Political science · Politics · Relevance (law · Social force · Sociology · State (computer science · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Computer Science · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Study and Philosophy of Religion

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