Mary Douglas Bücher

»Reinheit und Gefährdung« ist eine der anregendsten und wichtigsten Publikationen der neueren Religionssoziologie und Ethnologie. Anhand anschaulicher Beispiele aus der jüdisch-christlichen Vergangenheit und aus zeitgenössischen außereuropäischen Stammesgesellschaften weist die Autorin nach, daß die Reinheitsrituale und Tabuvorstellungen anderer Völker, die unserer moderner Welt- und Lebensauffassung fremd zu sein scheinen, einen Grundgedanken enthalten, der auch unseren profanen Maßnahmen gegen Schmutz und Unordnung zugrunde liegt: sie sollen die soziale Umgebung organisieren helfen und eine einheitliche, geordnete Erfahrung ermöglichen.

In diesem Buch wird die Rolle nationaler Währungen im Kontext mobiler Gelder und neuer Zahlungsmethoden untersucht. Mary Douglas bietet eine historische Perspektive auf Geld und Tokens, die die sozialen Anforderungen und die Identität der Menschen reflektieren. Ihre Analysen basieren auf Beobachtungen aus Westafrika und dem Nachkriegsbritannien.

Focusing on the authorship of the Pentateuch, Mary Douglas presents an anthropological analysis that reveals the priestly writers as politically motivated figures. She suggests that these authors were deeply invested in addressing the challenges faced by their community, using their work as a form of religious protest against the exclusionary policies of the Judah government. This perspective emphasizes the intersection of religion and politics in biblical texts, highlighting the authors' commitment to their congregation's struggles.

Exploring the interplay between institutions and cognition, this work delves into how societal structures shape thought processes. Drawing on the sociological frameworks of Emile Durkheim and Ludwig Fleck, the author examines the ways institutions influence collective thinking and the implications of this relationship for understanding knowledge and social dynamics. The analysis provides a nuanced perspective on the dependency of thought on institutional contexts, making it a significant contribution to sociological theory.

Exploring the societal roles of drinking, this study examines diverse case studies that highlight various substances beyond alcohol, showcasing their cultural significance across different geographical contexts. First published in 1987, it offers an insightful analysis of how drinking behaviors shape and reflect social dynamics.

Through an anthropological lens, this comprehensive analysis of Leviticus reveals it as a literary masterpiece structured around the desert tabernacle and Mount Sinai. The author, Mary Douglas, reinterprets the purity laws, arguing that forbidden animals like pigs deserve respect rather than disdain. By challenging traditional biblical criticism, she presents Leviticus as a profound intellectual work that emphasizes justice and compassion within a modern religious context, rather than a mere doctrine of a rigid priesthood.

How, then, do people decide which risks to take and which to ignore? On what basis are certain dangers guarded against and others relegated to secondary status? This book explores how we decide what risks to take and which to ignore, both as individuals and as a culture.