Abstract
Religious Studies is concerned with studying religion or the absence thereof. The concept of religion has been discussed, disliked and dissected over centuries. Some have predicted the disappearance of religion, others have predicted the changing of location from the public to the private sphere and some even the re-emergence of religion. In trying to determine the place and relations of Religious Studies an understanding of what religion entails is necessary. It is clear that Religious Studies consists of a multiform subject field and a variety of disciplines with a multiplicity of issues, interests and topics together with a wide variety of approaches and methods. Some scholars have described religion as a �saturated phenomenon� trying to indicate how the diversity of elements described as religious came to shroud the true subject matter. All these hindrances on the road to comprehending religion are like dragons preventing one from completing a (holy!) quest. This article does not want to provide new answers to an old debate. In this sense this article is not an attempt at slaying the dragons but identifying them. Three issues (dragons) are discussed. How religion, the object of Religious Studies, should be viewed? What methods are employed by Religious Studies and the relatedness of Religious Studies to Theology? In the end the article wants to provide direction on how Religious Studies, as academic discipline, can collaborate with research in Theology.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article discusses the development of the subject of Religious Studies by providing a historic overview of sociological influences on the development. In this sense this article is not an attempt at slaying the dragons but identifying them. Three issues (dragons) are discussed: how religion, the object of Religious Studies, should be viewed; what methods are employed by Religious Studies and the relatedness of Religious Studies to Theology (with implications for interdisciplinary collaboration). In the end the article wants to provide direction in how Religious Studies as academic discipline can collaborate with research in Theology
Highlights
What is in a name?Entering the metaphorical forest of knowledge on religious matters is a precarious endeavour
That the problem areas have been identified, an anticipatory suggestion as to the manner in which Religious Studies can be hosted at a Faculty of Theology can be made
I think that it would only be responsible to differentiate between Religious Studies and Theological Religious Studies
Summary
Entering the metaphorical forest of knowledge on religious matters is a precarious endeavour. It becomes a place where one can loose one’s way and end up engaging with objects considered to be the true objects to investigate just to realise an illusion has captured one’s attention. This article wants to identify several ‘dragons’ that might be encountered on this quest to make sense of Religious Studies. A third dragon encountered will be the question as to the relation between Religious Studies and Theology.
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