Redeeming Anthropology

Anthropologists have invariably engaged in their discipline as a form of redemption whether to escape from social restriction nourish their souls reform their home polities or vindicate the natives. <em>Redeeming Anthropology</em> explores how in pursuit of a secular science sired by the Enlightenment adherents to a faith in mankind have vacillated between rejecting and embracing theology albeit in concealed and contradictory ways. Mining the biographical registers of the American British and French anthropological traditions Khaled Furani argues that despite all efforts to the contrary theological sediments remain in this disciplining discipline. Rather than continuing to forget deny and sequester it theology can serve as a mirror for introspection as a source of critique offering invaluable tools for revitalization: for thinking anew not only anthropology's study of others' cultures but also its very own reason. <p/>