Religion as discourse: on the critique of the concept of religion -- Modern religious discourses -- The indispensability of the concept of religion -- On discourse-theory criticism -- On postcolonial criticism -- On the necessity of analytical concepts -- From language to social reference -- Religion as social reference: on justifying the concept of religion -- Demarcation -- Superimposition -- Assimilation -- The politics of religion -- Travelers' reports -- Conclusions -- Scholarly imaginations of religion -- Religion as a divine gift of reason -- Religion as an experience of revelation -- Religion as projection -- Religion as protoscience -- Religion as affect -- Religion as a function of the brain -- Religion as sacralized society -- Religion as an interest in salvation -- Religion as a commodity -- Outlook -- Religious practice and the promise of salvation: outline of a theory of religion -- Defining religion -- Understanding religion -- Explaining religion -- Averting misfortune: general religious practices -- Religious calendars -- Life-cycle practices -- Variable practices -- The radical quest for salvation: the practices of religious virtuosos -- On the concept of virtuosity -- Shamans -- Christians -- Jews -- Muslims -- Buddhists -- Japanese virtuosos -- Daoists -- On the logic of virtuoso practices -- Turning toward salvation: religious propaganda -- Conversion and propaganda -- Conversion narratives -- Reports of enlightenment -- Prophetic promises -- The future of religion -- On the universality of religion -- Secularization, disenchantment, and deinstitutionalization -- The return and the future of religion.