Religious Cycles by Theresa Walton

Religious Cycles explores how calendars have profoundly shaped religious beliefs and practices across diverse faiths and historical periods. The book argues that religious calendars are not merely time-tracking tools but powerful instruments that shape religious consciousness and social behavior. Calendars define religious identity, reinforce communal solidarity, and link religious life to the natural world.

The book begins with an introduction to key concepts, like the sacred year and holy days. Then, it analyzes solar calendars, such as those used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, highlighting the integration of agricultural cycles into religious practices.

Next, the book examines lunar calendars, focusing on the Islamic calendar and its impact on religious festivals.

Finally, it explores lunisolar calendars, using the Jewish calendar as an example of balancing lunar months with the solar year.

This book stands out by examining religious calendars as dynamic, evolving systems shaped by both astronomical events and sociocultural needs. By tracing the development and diffusion of calendrical practices, Religious Cycles ultimately reveals how calendars have served as linchpins in preserving cultural continuity and fostering social cohesion within religious communities.