What does religion do for the individual, the group, or the society? These are the questions that Hans Mol seeks to answer in Meaning and Place. Beginning each chapter with the description of a religious event or phenomenon, whether it be the Jonestown mass suicides, the Hare Krishna movement, a theological controversy in colonial America, the Islamic revival, or ancient aboriginal Chinese and Hindu religions, Mol ties the commentary on each of these into a more systematic conclusion. He covers geographical and social place, meaning. commitment, ritual, myth, morality and se cularization, while never straying too far from concrete materials. The counterbalance to his book Identity and the Sacred, Mean- ing and Place expands on the earlier wors, in a much more readable and concise presentation. This new vork is not cluttered with copious citations; for the reader who wishes further reference, he or she will find a list of books and articles at the end of this volume that will aid in tracing sources. Geared throughout to the intelligent layperson. Meaning and Place is a well-written introduction to the social scientific study of religion.