My Midterm

How are we as scholars of religion suppose to study religion? Discuss the "proper methodology" or "methodologies" as presented in When Scholars Study the Sacred. Explain in depth.

Answer:

There are a number of methods one could use to study religion. The first of these involves utilizing a “theological method.” In this method, one would attempt from a believers perspective, to study the idea of religious truth. The second method uses “Religious” studies. This method relates more to an academic study, in which the overall goal is the study of religion from a secular viewpoint. A third method is “phenomenology” in which the scholar attempts to describe the phenomena experienced by the believer by trying to step into the believers shoes. A fourth method, “sociological”, attempts to research the social origins of the religion and then attempt to analyze how the ideas developed. A fifth method, “psychological”, has one delving into and researching what makes one who they are from a psychological viewpoint. A sixth method looks at the religion from a “historical” point of view. In this method one reviews historical events and happenings related to it. The seventh method approaches the study from an “anthropological” stand point. This method studies early humans to show how religions developed.

As one studies there are various approaches that can be employed. Ninian Smart suggests the following three approaches can be used. One is “antipathy”, which has negative approach in that it tries to display the distortion of the religion being studied. A second is approach uses “sympathy”. While typically this is a little more positive way to look, it still yields a biased view of the religion, as one assumes ones personal religion is truth, which often provides a more critical review of the studied religion. The third approach uses “empathy”, which works to view a religion from the believer’s perspective. Peter Berger also states that are three approaches, however, he defines in a different manner. He calls his first approach “reduction.” In this approach one is looking to narrow down a religions to its social origins only. His second is “deduction” which makes starts with the hypothesis that the religious truth is based in reformation doctrine. His third approach uses “induction,” which strives to take purposefully the experience of the believer.

Using just one method and one approach would not provide the richness of study required to fully evaluate what was being studied. Because one has been brought up with some form of religious background, culture or beliefs it is difficult to be completely objective. Of the approaches mentioned above, the one that would probably not yield the most objectively evaluation would be to use just the Sympatric approach. Using this approach to what is being studied has built-in bias or context in which one has already asserted a lesser value to that of what the scholar would believes is the truth.

A proper method to study religion would use a combination of phenomenological, sociological and transpersonal psychological methodologies to objectively describe the phenomena, and then critically analyze the collected data followed by assessing the religions development stage.

In addition, a scholars study can also impact a rise in a studied religion. For instance, if one was to study a previously undocumented new religion it would be adding a form of recognition which in turn could contribute to the success of the religion. In writing about them they now obtain a small amount of publicity which could add credibility to what they believe since their ideas and the movements name have now been documented.