Marc Eaton co-edits new book on the supernatural

The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History, a book co-edited by Associate Professor of Sociology Marc Eaton, will be published in August by Temple University Press.

The book demonstrates the value of serious academic inquiry into supernatural beliefs and practices through pieces written by several contributors who address encounters with ghosts and the supernatural that have persisted and flourished.

“Featuring folkloric researchers examining the cultural value of such beliefs and practices, sociologists who acknowledge the social and historical value of the supernatural, and enthusiasts of the mystical and uncanny, this volume includes a variety of experts and interested observers using first-hand ethnographic experiences and historical records,” the book’s description reads.

“The Supernatural in Society, Culture, and History seeks to understand the socio-cultural and socio-historical contexts of the supernatural. This volume takes the supernatural as real because belief in it has fundamentally shaped human history. It continues to inform people’s interpretations, actions, and identities on a daily basis. The supernatural is an indelible part of our social world that deserves sincere scholarly attention.”