Basing his argument on the understanding the term "religion" (which he calls a folk category) has a Euro-American bias, Saler (anthropology, Brandeis U.) offers a way to turn religion into an analytical category that has cross-cultural value. He recommends the use of Wittgenstein's discussions of "family resemblances" in combination with prototype theory to properly analyze and conceptualize religion in social-scientific research. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
In the West, love occupies center stage in the modern age, whether in art, intellectual life, or the economic life. We may observe a similar development in China, on its own impetus, which has resulted in this characteristic of modernity—this feature of modern life has been securely and unambiguously established, not the least facilitated by the thriving of literature about qing, whether in traditional or modern forms.Qiancheng Li concentrates on the nuances of a similar trend manifested in the Chinese context. The emphasis is on critical readings of the texts that have shaped this trend, including important Ming- and Qing-dynasty works of drama, Buddhist texts and other religious/philosophical works, in all their subtlety and evocative power.
