The Historical-Typological Phenomenology of Religion: Problems and Promises
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Published
Dec 31, 2013
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Abstract
The phenomenology of religion has been criticized for failure of identity and
critical nerve. Scholars who use this approach are accused of taking a role
that amounts to not more than a reporter, repeating the insiders’
unsubstantiated claims while invoking methodological agnosticism as
justification for doing so. This paper explores the problems and possibilities
of balancing critic and caretakership by critically examining the aims and
methods of a particular nuance of phenomenology of religion called
historical-typological phenomenology of religion. The paper’s finding is that
by taking a critical stance on the aims and methods of the phenomenology of
religion, religious studies scholars can be able to insist on the sui generis
nature of religion and at the same time be able to move from caretakership to
critics. This has great significance on the issue of the role of the scholar of
religion as a public intellectual. The paper begins by raising the definitional
problem concerning the phenomenology of religion. This is followed by
isolating historical-typological phenomenology of religion and critically
examines its aims and methods.
critical nerve. Scholars who use this approach are accused of taking a role
that amounts to not more than a reporter, repeating the insiders’
unsubstantiated claims while invoking methodological agnosticism as
justification for doing so. This paper explores the problems and possibilities
of balancing critic and caretakership by critically examining the aims and
methods of a particular nuance of phenomenology of religion called
historical-typological phenomenology of religion. The paper’s finding is that
by taking a critical stance on the aims and methods of the phenomenology of
religion, religious studies scholars can be able to insist on the sui generis
nature of religion and at the same time be able to move from caretakership to
critics. This has great significance on the issue of the role of the scholar of
religion as a public intellectual. The paper begins by raising the definitional
problem concerning the phenomenology of religion. This is followed by
isolating historical-typological phenomenology of religion and critically
examines its aims and methods.
Article Details
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Taringa, N. (2013). The Historical-Typological Phenomenology of Religion: Problems and Promises. Alternation Journal, (11), 87-109. Retrieved from https://journals.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/soa/article/view/404
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Phenomenology of Religion in Religious Education. Religious Education
3,3/4.
Arthur, CJ 1992. Phenomenology of Religion and the Art of Story-telling:
The Relevance of William Goldings’s ‘The Inheritors’ to Religious
Studies’. Twiss, Summer B & Walter H Conser, jr (eds): Experience of
the Sacred: Readings in the Phenomenology of Religion. Hanover and
London: Brown University Press
Bourdillon, MFC 1993. Anthropological Approaches to the Study of African
Religions. Numen 40: 217 - 239.
Cox, JL 2006. A Guide to the Phenomenology of Religion: Key Figures,
Formative Influences and Subsequent Debates. London & New York: T
and T Clark International; A Continuum imprint.
Cox, JL 1998. Rational Ancestors: Scientific Rationality and African
Indigenous Religions. Great Britain: Cardiff Academic Press.
Cox, JL 1992. Expressing the Sacred: An Introduction to the Phenomenology
of Religion. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications.
Elzey, W 1994. Mircea Eliade and the Battle against Reductionism. In
Idinopulos, Thomas A & Edward A Yonan (eds): Religion and
Reductionism: Essays on Eliade, Segal, and the Challenge of the Social
Sciences for the Study of Religion. Leiden, New York, Köln: EJ Brill.
Eliade, M 1963. Patterns in Comparative Religion. Cleveland: The World
Publishing Company.
Flood, G 1999. Beyond Phenomenology: Rethinking the Study of Religion.
London & New York: Cassel.
Hufford, David J 1999. The Scholarly Voice and the Personal Voice:
Reflexivity in Belief Studies. In McCutcheon, Russell T (ed): The
Insider/ Outsider Problem in the Study of Religion: A Reader. London &
New York: Cassel.
Kruger, JS 1982. Studying Religion: A Methodological Introduction to
Science of Religion. Pretoria: University of South Africa
McCutcheon, RT (ed) 1999. The Insider/ Outsider Problem in the Study of
Religion: A Reader. London & New York: Cassel.
Moreau, AS Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Revised Edition,
forthcoming. Available at: file://A:\Phenomenology of Religion.htm.
Panikkar, R 1999. The Intra-Religious Dialogue. New York: Paulist Press.
Segal, RA 1989. Religion and the Social Sciences: Essays on the
Confrontation. Atlanta Georgia: Scholars Press
Sharma, A 2005. Religious Studies and Comparative Methodology: The Case
for Reciprocal Illumination. New York: State University of New York.
Sharma, A 2001. To Things Themselves: Essays on the Discourse and
Practice of the Phenomenology of Religion. Berlin & New York: Walter
de Gruyter.
Sharma, A 1994. What is Reductionism? In Idinopulos, Thomas A & Edward
A Yonan (eds): Religion and Reductionism: Essays on Eliade, Segal, and
the Challenge of the Social Sciences for the Study of Religion. Leiden,
New York & Köln: EJ Brill.
Sharpe, EJ 1986. Comparative Religion: A History. London: Gerald
Duckworth Company Ltd.,
Sharpe, EJ 1987. The Study of Religion: Methodological Issues. In Eliade, M
(ed): Encyclopedia of Religion Volume 12.
Smart, N 1996. Dimensions of the Sacred: An Anatomy of the World’s
Beliefs. London: Harper/ Collins.
Strenski, I 2006. Thinking about Religion: An Historical Introduction to
Theories of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Twiss, SB & WH Conser, jr 1992. Experience of the Sacred: Readings in the
Phenomenology of Religion. Hanover and London: Brown University
Press.
Van der Leeuw, G 1963. Religion in Essence and Manifestation. Volume II.
New York and Evanston: Harper and Row.
Phenomenology of Religion in Religious Education. Religious Education
3,3/4.
Arthur, CJ 1992. Phenomenology of Religion and the Art of Story-telling:
The Relevance of William Goldings’s ‘The Inheritors’ to Religious
Studies’. Twiss, Summer B & Walter H Conser, jr (eds): Experience of
the Sacred: Readings in the Phenomenology of Religion. Hanover and
London: Brown University Press
Bourdillon, MFC 1993. Anthropological Approaches to the Study of African
Religions. Numen 40: 217 - 239.
Cox, JL 2006. A Guide to the Phenomenology of Religion: Key Figures,
Formative Influences and Subsequent Debates. London & New York: T
and T Clark International; A Continuum imprint.
Cox, JL 1998. Rational Ancestors: Scientific Rationality and African
Indigenous Religions. Great Britain: Cardiff Academic Press.
Cox, JL 1992. Expressing the Sacred: An Introduction to the Phenomenology
of Religion. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications.
Elzey, W 1994. Mircea Eliade and the Battle against Reductionism. In
Idinopulos, Thomas A & Edward A Yonan (eds): Religion and
Reductionism: Essays on Eliade, Segal, and the Challenge of the Social
Sciences for the Study of Religion. Leiden, New York, Köln: EJ Brill.
Eliade, M 1963. Patterns in Comparative Religion. Cleveland: The World
Publishing Company.
Flood, G 1999. Beyond Phenomenology: Rethinking the Study of Religion.
London & New York: Cassel.
Hufford, David J 1999. The Scholarly Voice and the Personal Voice:
Reflexivity in Belief Studies. In McCutcheon, Russell T (ed): The
Insider/ Outsider Problem in the Study of Religion: A Reader. London &
New York: Cassel.
Kruger, JS 1982. Studying Religion: A Methodological Introduction to
Science of Religion. Pretoria: University of South Africa
McCutcheon, RT (ed) 1999. The Insider/ Outsider Problem in the Study of
Religion: A Reader. London & New York: Cassel.
Moreau, AS Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Revised Edition,
forthcoming. Available at: file://A:\Phenomenology of Religion.htm.
Panikkar, R 1999. The Intra-Religious Dialogue. New York: Paulist Press.
Segal, RA 1989. Religion and the Social Sciences: Essays on the
Confrontation. Atlanta Georgia: Scholars Press
Sharma, A 2005. Religious Studies and Comparative Methodology: The Case
for Reciprocal Illumination. New York: State University of New York.
Sharma, A 2001. To Things Themselves: Essays on the Discourse and
Practice of the Phenomenology of Religion. Berlin & New York: Walter
de Gruyter.
Sharma, A 1994. What is Reductionism? In Idinopulos, Thomas A & Edward
A Yonan (eds): Religion and Reductionism: Essays on Eliade, Segal, and
the Challenge of the Social Sciences for the Study of Religion. Leiden,
New York & Köln: EJ Brill.
Sharpe, EJ 1986. Comparative Religion: A History. London: Gerald
Duckworth Company Ltd.,
Sharpe, EJ 1987. The Study of Religion: Methodological Issues. In Eliade, M
(ed): Encyclopedia of Religion Volume 12.
Smart, N 1996. Dimensions of the Sacred: An Anatomy of the World’s
Beliefs. London: Harper/ Collins.
Strenski, I 2006. Thinking about Religion: An Historical Introduction to
Theories of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Twiss, SB & WH Conser, jr 1992. Experience of the Sacred: Readings in the
Phenomenology of Religion. Hanover and London: Brown University
Press.
Van der Leeuw, G 1963. Religion in Essence and Manifestation. Volume II.
New York and Evanston: Harper and Row.