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Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- Acknowledgments -- INTRODUCTION. The Sacralization of Politics -- CHAPTER 1. A Never-Never Religion, A Substitute for Religion, or a New Religion? -- CHAPTER 2. Civil Religions and Political Religions: From Democratic Revolutions to Totalitarian States -- CHAPTER 3. The Leviathan as a Church: Totalitarianism and Political Religion -- CHAPTER 4. The Invasion of the Idols: Christians against Totalitarian Religions -- CHAPTER 5. Toward the Third Millennium: The Sacralization of Politics in States both New and Old -- CHAPTER 6. Religions of Politics: Definitions, Distinctions, and Qualifications -- Notes

1. Theology after Marxism -- 2. Marxism, theology and the meanings of 'critique' -- 3. Secular Redemption -- 4. Marxism and Buddhism: A History and Appraisal -- 5. Marxism and Sikhism: A reciprocal relationship -- 6. Marxism and the question of 'political religions': can Marxism be understood as a religious phenomenon? -- 7. Zapatismo and Theology of Liberation -- 8. Liberation Theology and Non-Dogmatic Marxism in the Philippines -- 9. From Freedom of Religion to Environmentalism and Democracy: Understanding the Political Praxis of Christian Activists in the Communist Party-State Vietnam -- 10. Marxism and Confucianism in China -- 11. The (im)possibilities of a Hindu Left in contemporary India -- 12.The Popular Movement of the Rif; towards a class analysis of popular Islam in the contemporary Maghreb -- 13. Marxism, Islam and the Iranian Revolution -- 14. Political Islam as Counterhegemony: The Muslim Brotherhood and the Limits of Appropriating Gramsci to the Egyptian Context.

This paper examines the impact religious affiliation and faith commitment exerts on the political life of one inner-London borough. It gives a historical sketch of the interaction of faith and politics in the period from about 1975-2006 and attempts some explanation of the patterns of voting in local elections and political involvement by members of the many faith communities which are found in the borough. The key to this is seen in the changing urban ecology of the area and the communal interests of particular ethno-religious groups who have striven and, to a measure, succeeded in gaining representation in local politics over this period. Drawing on many years participation observation, an analysis of the religious and community affiliations of elected members, and a series of interviews with Councillors and faith leaders, it reflects political issues and conflicts involving faith communities. Evidence will be presented which suggests that while many Christians involved in politics are primarily motivated individually by beliefs and values which centre on service to the whole community, politicians from other faith communities are more likely to be cast in a role as communal representatives and advocates of particular sections of the community.

"This book identifies and examines political activities of selected religious actors in both domestic and international contexts, in relation to democracy, human rights and civilisational interactions. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 examines the controversial issue of how, why and when religious actors affect democratisation - that is, transition to democracy - and democracy itself. These chapters examine religion's impact on democratisation and human rights, with particular attention to secularisation, Islam, and globalisation. They indicate that numerous religious actors have had major importance in helping determine democratisation outcomes in various countries. Part 2 is concerned with relationships between different civilisational actors, especially in relation to human rights, a controversial political, cultural and religious issue. These chapters examine how intercivilisational concerns, centrally involving real or perceived religious and cultural differences, affect political outcomes in both domestic and international contexts. This book will be of great interest to postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students of religion and politics, religion and international relations, democratisation and democracy, and global governance, especially studies of the United Nations. It will also interest practitioners and scholars who work on religion and politics, in both domestic and international contexts"--

Athens at the time of the Peloponnesian war was the arena for a dramatic battle between politics and religion in the hearts and minds of the people. Fear and Loathing in Ancient Athens, originally published in German but now available for the first time in an expanded and revised English edition, sheds new light on this dramatic period of history and offers a new approach to the study of Greek religion. The book explores an extraordinary range of events and topics, and will be an indispensable study for students and scholars studying Athenian religion and politics.