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Whereas many textbooks treat the subject of world religions in an apolitical way, as if each religion were a path for individuals seeking wisdom and not a discourse intimately connected with the exercise of power, James W. Laine treats religion and politics as halves of the same whole, tracing their relationship from the policies of Alexander the Great to the ideologies of modern Europe secularists, with stops in classical India, China, and the Islamic world. Meta-Religion is a groundbreaking text that brings power and politics to the fore of our understanding of world religions, placing religion at the center of world history. This synthetic approach is both transformative and enlightening as it presents a powerful model for thinking differently about what religion is and how it functions in the world. With images and maps to bring the narrative to life, Meta-Religion combines sophisticated scholarly critique with accessibility that students and scholar alike will appreciate.
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Meta-Religion Religion and Power in World History
James W. Laine
university of california press
The Joan Palevsky
Imprint in Classical Literature
In honor of beloved Virgil^ "O degli e lume . . ." — Dante,
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Classical Literature Endowment Fund of the University of California Press Foundation, which was established by a major gift from Joan Palevsky.
Meta-Religion
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Meta-Religion Religion and Power in World History
James W. Laine
university of california press
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Oakland, California © 2014 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Laine, James W. Meta-religion : religion and power in world history / James W. Laine. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-520-28136-3 (cloth, alk. paper) — isbn 978-0-520-28137-0 (pbk., alk. paper) — isbn 978-0-520-95999-6 (electronic) 1. Religions—History. 2. Religion and politics— History. I. Title. BL80.3.L34 2015 201′.72—dc23 2014020289 Manufactured in the United States of America 24 10
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In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally responsible and sustainable printing practices, UC Press has printed this book on Natures Natural, a fiber that contains 30% post-consumer waste and meets the minimum requirements of ansi/niso z39.48-1992 (r 1997) (Permanence of Paper).
To my wife, Joy, and our children, Maria, Patrick, Claire, and Rosie
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Contents
List of Illustrations Preface Introduction
part one. religion and empire in antiquity, 330 b.c.–710 a.d. 1. Alexander and Ashoka: Cosmopolitan Empires and Religious Policy from Egypt to India, 330–230 b.c. 2. Imperial Religion: China to Rome, 250 b.c.–250 a.d. 3. The Debate over Dharma: Hindus and Buddhists Compete for Ideological Dominance in South Asia 4. Confessional Religion and Empire before the Rise of Islam 5. The Rise of Islam and the Early Caliphate, 622–711 a.d.
part two. the islamic millennium, 700–1700 a.d. 6. Imperial Islam, 690–1500 a.d. 7. The Great Islamic Empires of the Early Modern Era (ca. 1500–1700)
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