The contributors of these 12 papers argue for a new perspective on the study of religion that examines the works of transmission and innovation through the standard set by learning, on the basis that religious culture is built by active agents engaged in learning processes. The result, they say, is not passive "downloading" of data from person to person but a fully active social process with its relational dimension. Their evidence and specific topics include the process of learning to believe, the lessons learned from "first blood" ritual, the workings of the accidental in religious instruction, learning to know that you mean what you do, learning it is God who speaks, learning a spirit possession religion, learning to be a proper spirit medium, ritual speech and the right to it, young Christians and catechism, Chinese versions of religion, and elements of witchcraft in religious transmission. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)