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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