Playful Religion explores the concept of play as it appears within the rituals and practices of various religions from around the world, such as Latin American Pentecostalism and the African religion of Candomblé. Despite the seriousness of the issues religion generally deals with, this book demonstrates that the idea of play is an essential part of religious life across cultures and throughout history. Making use of case studies that focus on contemporary religious choices, religious syncretism, and the fate of religion in Western Europe, Playful Religion is an in-depth look at the changing and highly imaginative face of global religion.