The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge
eBook - PDF

The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge

Some Methodological Questions

  1. 174 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge

Some Methodological Questions

About this book

Ambitiously undertaking to develop a strategy for making the study of religion "scientific," Ninian Smart tackles a set of interrelated issues that bear importantly on the status of religion as an academic discipline. He draws a clear distinction between studying religion and "doing theology," and considers how phenomenological method may be used in investigating objects of religious attitudes without presupposing the existence of God or gods. He goes on to criticize projectionist theories of religion (notably Berger's) and theories of rationality in both religion and anthropology.

On this basis he builds a theory of religious dynamics which gives religious ideas and entities an autonomous place in the sociology of knowledge. His overall purpose is thus "to indicate ways forward in the study of religion which free it from being crypto-apologetics or elevating poetry."

Originally published in 1973.

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Yes, you can access The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge by Ninian Smart in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Philosophy & Philosophy of Religion. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Preface
  4. 1 The Science of Religion
  5. 2 Religion and Theology
  6. 3 The Nature of the Phenomenological Objects of Religion
  7. 4 Religion and Projection
  8. 5 Religion and Rationality
  9. 6 Within and Without Religion
  10. 7 Compatibilities and Religious Materials
  11. 8 Further Reflections
  12. Bibliography