Sister Insider/Outsider

Abstract


 
 
 Religious studies as an academic pursuit is heir to the ideal of objectivity traditionally pursued in the social sciences. Consequently, some scholars dismiss theology from religious studies on the grounds that it is not appropriately distant from its subject matter. On the basis of this distinction the vast array of theological material available to religious studies scholars has been discounted as unusable, despite providing much needed insight into religious beliefs and behaviors. In this paper, I argue that theological material as a whole should not be discounted as a source of religious studies scholarship and critique and conclude that it is necessary to reconsider the place of theological texts within religious studies discourse. This reconsideration is necessary because critical theologies can use methods and include analysis that conform to the critical academic standards of religious studies.