Ways of Studying Ways of Studying ReligionReligion

The Academic Study of The Academic Study of ReligionReligion

- Assumptions -- Assumptions - One religion is neither better nor worse than another One religion is neither better nor worse than another religion; they are simply differentreligion; they are simply different

There are core similarities that are shared by all There are core similarities that are shared by all religionsreligions

There are differences between, within and among all There are differences between, within and among all religionsreligions

Religion is a powerful influence on a person’s Religion is a powerful influence on a person’s approach and response to life experiencesapproach and response to life experiences

All individuals have the right to be respected for their All individuals have the right to be respected for their religious heritagereligious heritage

Not all people are religious – they too have the right to Not all people are religious – they too have the right to be respectedbe respected

The Academic study of The Academic study of religionreligion

““is a secondary activity that is a secondary activity that attempts to discover, describe, and attempts to discover, describe, and explain the primary expressions of explain the primary expressions of the religious life of a community…” the religious life of a community…”

““requires the use of many disciplines requires the use of many disciplines and methods…”and methods…”

TheologyTheology ““words about [study of] God”words about [study of] God” Generally done from Generally done from withinwithin a [theistic] a [theistic]

religious tradition (e.g. Christian theology)religious tradition (e.g. Christian theology) To describe and transmit the teachings of a To describe and transmit the teachings of a

particular religious tradition or communityparticular religious tradition or community

Discuss:Discuss: difference between studying religion in difference between studying religion in church vs. in the classroomchurch vs. in the classroom

But religion is more than just thinking about But religion is more than just thinking about GodGod

Literary CriticismLiterary Criticism Asks questions regarding sacred textsAsks questions regarding sacred texts

or scriptures:or scriptures:– Who is the author?Who is the author?– When was this text composed?When was this text composed?– Where was it written and to what audience?Where was it written and to what audience?– What was the author’s reason for writing this?What was the author’s reason for writing this?– What type of literature is used?What type of literature is used?– How has this text been received, edited, How has this text been received, edited,

interpreted?interpreted?

But religion is more than just what is But religion is more than just what is contained in a sacred textcontained in a sacred text

History of Religionclick link to see 5000 years of religion play out in 90 secondsclick link to see 5000 years of religion play out in 90 seconds

Historians seek to find out “what really Historians seek to find out “what really happened” – the facts about a given happened” – the facts about a given religionreligion

Explores how social, economic, cultural or Explores how social, economic, cultural or environmental factors may have environmental factors may have influenced a religion’s:influenced a religion’s:– Beginnings, development, spreadBeginnings, development, spread

Using “tools” such as:Using “tools” such as:– Archaeology, geography, demography, Archaeology, geography, demography,

population statisticspopulation statistics

The Anthropological Study of The Anthropological Study of ReligionReligion

““words about human beings” and words about human beings” and human societies…human societies…

as both creators and creations of as both creators and creations of culturescultures

Religion, as a part of human culture, is Religion, as a part of human culture, is thus studied by anthropologists as a thus studied by anthropologists as a “powerful factor in any culture”“powerful factor in any culture”

Edward B. TylorEdward B. Tylor(1832 – 1917)(1832 – 1917)

Sociology of ReligionSociology of Religion ““words about social behavior”words about social behavior” Generally concerned with the life ofGenerally concerned with the life of

modern , developed, literate societies (in contrast modern , developed, literate societies (in contrast to anthropology)to anthropology)

Explores the social origins and function of religion Explores the social origins and function of religion in human societyin human society

The sociologist studies “the way religion interacts The sociologist studies “the way religion interacts with other dimensions of our social experience”with other dimensions of our social experience”– How human social life changes religionHow human social life changes religion– How religion transforms human social behaviorHow religion transforms human social behavior

Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920)But religion is more than just a fact of social lifeBut religion is more than just a fact of social life

Psychology of ReligionPsychology of Religion ““words about the psyche [mind]”words about the psyche [mind]” The psychologist explores the psychological The psychologist explores the psychological

dimensions of religious phenomenadimensions of religious phenomena

William James (1842-1910)William James (1842-1910) Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

– ““religion is an infantile dependency, a neurosis”religion is an infantile dependency, a neurosis” Carl Jung (1875-1961) Carl Jung (1875-1961)

– religion is a projection of “archetypes of the religion is a projection of “archetypes of the unconscious”unconscious”

But religion is more than just a fact of psychic lifeBut religion is more than just a fact of psychic life

Philosophy of ReligionPhilosophy of Religion ““Love of wisdom”Love of wisdom” Philosophers of religion reflect on the logic, Philosophers of religion reflect on the logic,

meaning and truth value of religious stories meaning and truth value of religious stories and beliefsand beliefs

Analyzing religious languageAnalyzing religious language

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) (theologian)Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) (theologian) Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

But religion is more than just ideas to be But religion is more than just ideas to be analyzed and often goes beyond the limits analyzed and often goes beyond the limits of logicof logic

PhenomenologyPhenomenology

““words about phenomena” – that words about phenomena” – that which appearswhich appears

Concerned only with descriptionConcerned only with description Goal:Goal: to portray religion in its own to portray religion in its own

terms rather than reduce or explain terms rather than reduce or explain it in terms of some other disciplineit in terms of some other discipline

Edmund Husserl (1859-1938)Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) Mircea Eliade (historian of religion)Mircea Eliade (historian of religion)

The PhenomenologistThe Phenomenologist suspends judgmentsuspends judgment, does not seek to , does not seek to

explain (as do the other disciplines) explain (as do the other disciplines) must remain detached and impartialmust remain detached and impartial

to avoid explaining, interpreting or to avoid explaining, interpreting or judging what he or she studiesjudging what he or she studies

remains skeptical of explanatory remains skeptical of explanatory theoriestheories that claim to completely that claim to completely account for the complex origins or account for the complex origins or nature of religion itself, or of any nature of religion itself, or of any religious traditionreligious tradition

Phenomenolgy

Philosophy

Theology

Literary Criticism

Sociology

AnthropologyPsychology

History

Religion

The relationship between the The relationship between the disciplinesdisciplines

Phenomenology studies the

whole, as it is

Each discipline studies religion from a limited perspective

““insiders” vs. “Outsiders”insiders” vs. “Outsiders” Hermeneutics: how we “interpret”Hermeneutics: how we “interpret” The “inside” believer and the “outside” The “inside” believer and the “outside”

observer understanding of religion will differobserver understanding of religion will differ Either may be a partial, distorted or even Either may be a partial, distorted or even

wrong understandingwrong understanding These different scholarly disciplines are not These different scholarly disciplines are not

mutually exclusive; they may be mutually exclusive; they may be complementary – each providing insight to complementary – each providing insight to both “insiders” and “outsiders”both “insiders” and “outsiders”

What can the academic study of religion do What can the academic study of religion do for you?for you?

If religion were a house…If religion were a house…

The one who lives inside the house (the committed believer) will know all the nooks and crannies - the

details up close

One has to be outside the house to see it as a whole - to see the

big picture

Are you an “insider”(a committed

believer)or an “outsider”?

How might your position affect your study of religion?

Review QuestionsReview Questions Who studies God?Who studies God? Who studies sacred texts?Who studies sacred texts? Who studies the facts within the Who studies the facts within the

larger context of history?larger context of history? Who studies religion as a part of Who studies religion as a part of

human culture?human culture? Who studies the way religion interacts Who studies the way religion interacts

with other dimensions of our social with other dimensions of our social experience?experience?

Who explores the psychological Who explores the psychological dimensions of religious phenomenadimensions of religious phenomena

Who reflects on the logic, meaning Who reflects on the logic, meaning and truth value of religious stories and truth value of religious stories and beliefs?and beliefs?

Who merely describes, without trying to explain, interpret, or Who merely describes, without trying to explain, interpret, or judge religion?judge religion?Which discipline might appeal most to you? (why?)Which discipline might appeal most to you? (why?)

•The anthropologist

• The historian

•The literary critic

•The phenomenologist

•The philosopher

•The psychologist

•The sociologist

•The theologian