Reflections on the Limits of Reflection: An Invitation to the Discursive Study of Religion
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion 2010 DOI: 10.1163/157006810x512347 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 64 |
| Key points | Argues that definitions of and approaches to religion are intrinsically linked to the episteme and discourse of their time, so no neutral definition is possible. Rather than seeking a better definition of religion, the paper proposes that the academic study of religion should describe, analyze, and demarcate religious fields of discourse, which are both the object of study and the scholars' habitat. |
Abstract
Abstract It has repeatedly been claimed that the study of religion should not essentialize “religion” as an object of study that exists “out there,” waiting for us to discover and understand “it.” Reflection on the contexts and hidden agendas of concepts of religion are part and parcel of scholarly activity. But can there be an end to such a circle of reflection? This paper argues that definitions of and approaches to religion are intrinsically linked to the episteme and the discourse of the time. After clarifying the terms “discourse,” “episteme,” and “field,” this dynamic is exemplified with the emergence of the academic field of “Western esotericism.” The paper concludes that rather than looking for a better definition of religion, the academic study of religion should focus on describing, analyzing, and demarcating the religious fields of discourse. These fields are both the object of study for scholars of religion and the scholars’ habitat.