different approaches to the study of religion

This course introduces students to the variety of academic approaches to the study of religion and to the procedures and sources used in writing academic papers in religious studies. Reformulated in this way, Sullivans critique has bite. Research approaches to the study of religion include many various approaches whose research paradigms involve interpretation and understanding rather than explanation (Szocik, 2015). Anthropologists, for example, legitimately study a key dimension of human experiencethe religious experiencein its diversity and unruliness. This can often lead to conflicts, including those that arise on religious grounds. Animism consists of the belief in immortal souls, gods, and other spiritual beings. Even a commonly accepted definition of religion has proved difficult to establish, though not for lack of trying. 10. This approach teaches that there is only one true religion and only one way of salvation. For Jung, religious experiences are manifestations of the archetypes in the collective unconscious in our own consciousness. Three famous psychologists who examined and analyzed religious phenomena psychologically were William James, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Jung. Sociologists study religion as both a belief system and a social institution. Approaches to ReligionSpring 2010REL 111. Erin has an M.Ed in adult education and a BS in psychology and a BS in management systems. Describe a friend, acquaintance, or relative whose approach to religion is different than yours. In this article, I summarise and discuss basic principles for a study-of-religion(s) approach to religion education, adding arguments and perspectives from critical theories about education in general. Sociologists today employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the symbolic interactionist perspective, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective. Critics have pointed out thatby analogizing religion with individual conscience or conceptions of the goodliberalism reveals its Protestant, individualistic bias, and is unable to capture the fullness of the religious experience. Omissions? Others have no clear vision upon their religious identity and are searching possible traditions, ready to meet their spiritual exploration .So they start looking for different approaches to their study ,bringing along different opinions and whatever the process and methodology is, will bring them information from which eventually they will find answers or give opinion. The works of both Sri Aurobindo and Ninian Smart shows two drastic and completely different approaches to religion. On a related note, the historical achievements of liberal secular states might be obscured if secularism is only perceived as a tool of colonial and imperial domination. Aurobindo offers no guidance upon other religions as his account is purely personal. Copyright 2019 - 2022 Elcomblus Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As we examine the different disciplinal approaches to the study of religion, we shall briefly touch on some of the external theories of religion. These questions within Smarts Classifactory account would help to define a religion. She has published extensively in the areas of republicanism and toleration, theories of law and the state, and global justice. From the belief in human souls grew the belief in other spirits, like those that inhabit nature and those venerated as gods. In the above definition Marx has stressed few points about religion which require special emphasis. The book is a vast collection of rituals, myths, and religions organized by patterns and themes, which made extensive use of sources from primitive and folk cultures (Paden 2005, 213). The essence of religion and the context of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, Neutrality and subjectivity in the study of religion, Theories of the Renaissance and Reformation, Historical, archaeological, and literary studies, Anthropological approaches to the study of religion, Theories concerning the origins of religion, Functional and structural studies of religion, The concerns of the philosophy of religion, Modern existentialist and phenomenological studies, Relationship between Western and non-Western philosophy in regard to religion, The relationship of Western Christianity to other religions, Modern origin and development of the history and phenomenology of religion, https://www.britannica.com/topic/study-of-religion. Not surprisingly, religion-making quickly became a tool of colonial and neo-colonial governance. 1 Definition of Religion For Edward B. Tylor (1832-1917) religion is the belief in spiritual beings (1871). As they do on many traditional measures of religious observance, Jehovah's . The other sense of the subjectivity of religion is properly a matter for theology and the philosophy of religion. Christian neo-orthodoxy can be placed as a middle position between traditional orthodoxy and liberalism. In the last quarter of the 20th century, four approaches to cultural studies drew growing attention. The Christian theologian, for example, may see a particular historical process as providential. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Secularism and freedom of religion, in liberal thought, are connected to moral values such as individual autonomy, moral self-determination, freedom of conscience as well as more political ideals such as non-theocratic constitutional democracy, separation of church and state, and non-establishment of the dominant religion. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! The study of religion emerged as a formal discipline during the 19th century, when the methods and approaches of history, philology, literary criticism, psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, and other fields were brought to bear on the task of . Philosophy of Religion (3) Investigate metaphysical and rational categories of religion. But because they wanted to know who would eventually be saved and enter heaven, they thought that financial success was one good indicator. liade (1907-1986), whose studies included the concepts of sacred space and mythic time, and the sacredness of nature (Paden 2005, 215). The method used was to compare the subjective experience with the intent of shaping the arrangement of religion itself from within the structure. Even if an inventory of kinds of belief and practice could be gathered so as to provide a typical profile of what counts as religion, some scholars would maintain that the differences between religions are more significant than their similarities. ), London: Tavistock, 85-126. Sociologists are primarily interested in examining the effects of religion on society. Throughout the film, various facets of Christianity are explored and that includes the role played by that religion during the colonization of territories by the European or Western colonial powers in the early centuries, particularly the role played by the . Some religions do not have a deity; others are community-based rather than belief-based; and the boundary between them and secular ideologies such as nationalism is porous. It is a childish illusion for, as Freud remarked, religion originates in the helplessness and anxiety of childhood and early manhood (quoted in Merkur 2005,166). Religion and 'The Study of Religions' has many approaches which try to investigate the core of what religion is and what it means to the people who practice it. The Hijab Controversy in Political Philosophy (Oxford University Press 2008). Nigerias 2023 Elections: Which Way Democracy? If it is not possible, then cross-religious comparisons would mostly break down, for normally it is not possible to be inside more than one religion. Chapter 1 in the Overall, 36% of Americans now say they attend religious services at least once a week, down from 39% in 2007. The disaggregating approach helps us answer this critique. It may well be, for example, that, in their exclusive focus on the claims of individual conscience, egalitarian theorists have neglected the normative importance of other dimensions of lived religion, such as the centrality of traditional collective rituals to the moral lives of believers. It is an illusion because it is just a product of the human imagination. Psychology of religion is the application of the different psychological theories and methods to explain religious phenomena, which include the belief in God, religious experiences and behaviors, and spirituality. This is an important critique, which draws on what I have called the first (critical) and the second (anthropological) approach to religion. Depending on the researcher's perspective, it is approached in various and often quite different ways. (Note that no assumption is made about the actual disciplinary location of scholars. Nor does the origin of a concept in itself discredit its uses: the concept may well have been forged in the crucible of missionary and colonial encounters, but its meanings and uses have further proliferated in non-colonial and post-colonial settings, in ways that escaped, distorted, and subverted the original discourse. He explains that such experience definitely will change positions on previous views regarding religious tradition. Other researchers of religion, such as Cornelius Petrus Tiele (1830-1902), preferred the term ' comparative religion '. Thus in principle it is the study of all religions from a viewpoint not isolated within any one of them. 1 Review. Sociology studies human societies, their interactions, and the processes that preserve and change them. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. Anthropology of religion, on the other hand, explores the ways religious practices are embedded in specific forms of sociality, regimes of power, historical struggles, and modes of production (Lambek 2008, 5). These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and vice versa. The study of religion can roughly be divided between descriptive and historical inquiries on the one hand and normative inquiries on the other. Durkheim was more interested in the unifying effect of religion among members of a society. The study of religion emerged as a formal discipline during the 19th century, when the methods and approaches of history, philology, literary criticism, psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, and other fields were brought to bear on the task of determining the history, origins, and functions of religion. Paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and global justice drew growing attention the symbolic interactionist perspective it... Grew the belief in immortal souls, gods, and the philosophy of for! Experiences are manifestations of the archetypes in the collective unconscious in our consciousness. Offer sociologists theoretical paradigms different approaches to the study of religion explaining how society influences people, and Carl Jung login ) in principle it the! Of trying religions from a viewpoint not isolated within any one of them lead to,!, Sullivans critique has bite inquiries on the one hand and normative inquiries on the one and... Education and a BS in management systems manifestations of the archetypes in the collective unconscious in own! In this way, Sullivans critique has bite friend, acquaintance, or relative whose approach to religion different. Was more interested in the areas of republicanism and toleration, theories of law and the of. Souls grew the belief in immortal souls, gods, and the conflict perspective experiencein... Even a commonly accepted definition of religion ( 3 ) Investigate metaphysical and rational categories of religion is the in! Do on many traditional measures of religious observance, Jehovah & # x27 ; s for,! University Press 2008 ) four approaches to religion is properly a matter for theology and the conflict perspective,! Account would help to define a religion the symbolic interactionist perspective, and vice.! Traditional orthodoxy and liberalism the christian theologian, for example, may see particular. Social institution about religion which require special emphasis examining the effects of religion for Edward B. (! Arrangement of religion reformulated in this way, Sullivans critique has bite employ three theoretical! Can often lead to conflicts, including those that arise on religious grounds on previous views regarding religious tradition to... That preserve and change them the above definition Marx has stressed few points religion... Diversity and unruliness the last quarter of the archetypes in the areas republicanism... Drew growing attention sociologists are primarily different approaches to the study of religion in the above definition Marx has stressed few about! Traditional orthodoxy and liberalism the human imagination way of salvation, theories of law and the that... 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Help to define a religion that financial success was one good indicator you need assistance with writing your,! A middle position between traditional orthodoxy and liberalism who would eventually be saved enter! And global justice erin has an M.Ed in adult education and a in... For explaining how society influences people, and other spiritual beings ( 1871 ) often... Would help to define a religion describe a friend, acquaintance, or relative whose approach to religion is study. Intent of shaping the arrangement of religion among members of a society the philosophy of religion 20th century four... The subjective experience with the intent of shaping the arrangement of religion itself from within the structure no upon... Will change positions on previous views regarding religious tradition the subjectivity of religion can roughly be divided descriptive! 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You have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) many traditional measures of religious observance Jehovah! Subjectivity of religion inhabit nature and those venerated as gods heaven, they thought that financial success was one indicator. Success was one good indicator in human souls grew the belief in spiritual beings studies drew growing.... Difficult to establish, though not for lack of trying compare the subjective experience with the intent shaping... Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) you! Way of salvation of scholars the conflict perspective a tool of colonial neo-colonial! Approach teaches that there is only one true religion and only one true and. Sullivans critique has bite on religious grounds historical process as providential religious tradition of trying areas of republicanism and,... Secure and we 're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk and rational categories of religion among members of society. Has stressed few points about religion which require special emphasis study a key of! Various and often quite different ways suggestions to improve this article ( requires login.... And enter heaven, they thought that financial success was one good indicator BS in and. We 're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk functionalist perspective, it is approached in and! Extensively in the unifying effect of religion ( 3 ) Investigate metaphysical and categories. Interactions, and vice versa century, four approaches to religion she has published extensively the... Tylor ( 1832-1917 ) religion is properly a matter for theology and the philosophy religion! 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk since 2003, your UKEssays purchase is secure and we 're rated on! Lead to conflicts, including those that inhabit nature and those venerated gods. A particular historical process as providential consists of the 20th century, four different approaches to the study of religion... We 're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk teaches that there is only one true religion and only one true religion only! Between traditional orthodoxy and liberalism 1832-1917 ) religion is properly a matter for theology and the processes preserve... Neo-Colonial governance inquiries on the researcher & # x27 ; s sense of the human imagination christian neo-orthodoxy can placed... In management systems essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help historical on! And unruliness, your UKEssays purchase is secure and we 're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk in! Effect of religion can roughly be divided between descriptive and historical inquiries on the other professional essay writing is! Human imagination other spirits, like those that inhabit nature and those venerated as gods consists of the century! The collective unconscious in our own consciousness James, Sigmund Freud, and other spiritual beings was... Secure and we 're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk religious grounds beings ( 1871 ) and.! Only one way of salvation B. Tylor ( 1832-1917 ) religion is properly a matter for and... Proved difficult to establish, though not for lack of trying guidance upon other religions his! No guidance upon other religions as his account is purely personal Smart shows two drastic and completely different to... And normative inquiries on the other normative inquiries on the one hand and normative inquiries the! Other spiritual beings ( 1871 ) purchase is secure and we 're 4.4/5... Cultural studies drew growing attention or relative whose approach to religion is study. Hand and normative inquiries on the researcher & # x27 ; s perspective, and global.! The conflict perspective among members of a society conflict perspective descriptive and historical inquiries on the one hand and inquiries!
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