> And this is contrary to what people understand as religion, which seems to avoid carving reality at the joints
It's not. It matches exactly what people understand as religion in any context that doesn't involve themselves.
Compare the Roman Emperor, who was never referred to as a "king" -- by the Romans -- because the concept was taboo. The Greeks went ahead and referred to him as a king. Who was right? What would we gain by excluding imperial Rome from a study of monarchical societies?
It's not. It matches exactly what people understand as religion in any context that doesn't involve themselves.
Compare the Roman Emperor, who was never referred to as a "king" -- by the Romans -- because the concept was taboo. The Greeks went ahead and referred to him as a king. Who was right? What would we gain by excluding imperial Rome from a study of monarchical societies?