This series addresses the challenge that the study of literature, history and material culture of the past often poses for modern researchers, students and teachers, because the religious assumptions of previous centuries are remote from the worldviews of contemporary people. The volumes in the series aim to provide research, discussion and critical perspectives on the role of religion and the historical inter-relationships of religion, society and culture, each focusing on a particular period or topic. They are designed primarily for those in university research, teaching and study, but their subjects and approaches are also likely to be of interest to readers and teachers more widely. Each volume offers a collection of essays by leading scholars and critics, providing an authoritative and balanced overview of the subject in the light of current research.

Central to the aims of the series is a conviction of the importance of the inter-relationship of research and teaching and the belief that the best teaching is that which is informed by the best contemporary research and thinking. The series is produced in association with the Christianity and Culture project, which seeks to explore how past religious culture can be studied and taught in modern multi-cultural, multi-faith, and in many respects secular, societies, in an objective and academic way. While the major part of each volume will be a sequence of specially commissioned essays, designed to provide a comprehensive survey of a topic, and addressing the issues, information and research relevant for an informed and up-to-date study of the religious culture of a past society and culture, volumes will also discuss how they can most effectively be presented, and made accessible, to students. Each book will therefore both give space specifically to consideration of methods of teaching historical religious culture, and contain essays in which teachers in higher education from a range of countries and contexts discuss issues and materials, and suggest approaches and answers.