Gourt > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Religious Studies (12)
Religious studies is the designation commonly used in the English-speaking world for a multi-disciplinary, secular study of religion that dates to the late 19th century in Europe (and the influential early work of such scholars as Friedrich Max Müller, in England, and Cornelius P. Tiele, in the Netherlands), but is practiced today by scholars worldwide. It is distinct from confessional theology in that it emphasizes human society and behavior rather than metaphysics. It draws upon multiple disciplines and their methodologies including the anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history of religion. In its early years, it was known as Comparative Religion or the Science of Religion and, in the US, there are those who today also know the field as the History of Religion (associated with methodological traditions traced to the University of Chicago in general, and in particular Mircea Eliade, from the late 1950s through to the late 1980s). Known as Religionswissenschaft in Germany and Sciences Religieuses in France, this academic field emphasizes the systematic, historically-based, and cross-cultural description, comparison, interpretation, and explanation of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions.
Intellectual foundation and background
Before religious studies became a field in its own right (e.g., flourishing in the US as of the late-1960s), several key intellectual figures explored religion from a variety of perspectives. One of these figures was the famous pragmatist William James. His 1902 Gifford lectures and book The Varieties of Religious Experience examined religion from a psychological-philosophical perspective and is still influential today. His essay The Will to Believe defends the rationality of faith.
Max Weber studied religion from an economic perspective in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, his most famous work. As a major figure in sociology, he has no doubt influenced later sociologists of religion. Emile Durkheim also holds continuing influence as one of the fathers of sociology. He explored Protestant and Catholic attitudes and doctrines regarding suicide in his work Suicide. In 1912 he published his most memorable work on religion, Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.
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Theology :: Christianity
Religious Texts :: Religion and Spirituality
My religious studies professor was talking about universal languages. we couldnt think of any. he said, "music and love!" so true!
StefaniLeon (Stefani Leon) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:59:34 -0000
My religious studies professor was talking about universal languages. we couldnt think of any. he said, "music and love!" so true!
Psychology experiment is now over:) Next week is then, in English and religious studies. Should just make them read.
Lady_Gisborne (Lady_Gisborne) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:19:48 -0000
Psychology experiment is now over:) Next week is then, in English and religious studies. Should just make them read.
In Religious Studies, and I learned that homeless people smell. Bad. Wow, how profound.
FaithTheLaugh (Faith ) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:21:26 -0000
In Religious Studies, and I learned that homeless people smell. Bad. Wow, how profound.
7:20am is a good time 2 look online 4 pictures of dead Saints & parts of dead saints in special boxes, I always say. Yay Religious Studies!
DLWestwood (Deborah Westwood) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:23:01 -0000
7:20am is a good time 2 look online 4 pictures of dead Saints & parts of dead saints in special boxes, I always say. Yay Religious Studies!
yay, religious studies class canceled this morning! time to work on Japanese translation that i haven't started!!! XD
AshleyElson (Ashley Elson) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:28:41 -0000
yay, religious studies class canceled this morning! time to work on Japanese translation that i haven't started!!! XD
YES! paper for religious studies : new due date!
mandilee8 (Mandi Beckwith) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:08:16 -0000
YES! paper for religious studies : new due date!
Bible History Online Images and Resource Links - Resources for study of the Bible and the ancient world. Maps, timelines, images, software, links.
Meta Description: [ Bible History Online Images and Resources for Biblical History. Resources, Free Bible Software, Bible Art, Biblical History Topics and Study, and ancient Bible maps of Rome, Greece, and ancient Near East. ]
Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion - Consortium of Canadian academic societies. News, articles, job listings; directories of Canadian researchers, journals, and academic departments.
Definitions of Religious Terms - Alphabetized and cross-linked collection of definitions taken from the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions and the Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions.
Meta Description: [ Jesse Slokum ]
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Edoardo Agnelli Centre for Comparative Religious Studies - Promotes interdisciplinary research on religions in contemporary societies. Includes details of events and scholarships, and full text documents for download in PDF format. Site also available in Italian.
Meta Description: [ Centro di studi religiosi comparati Edoardo Agnelli ]
Exploring Religions - Overviews of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Includes an extensive crosslinked glossary for each religion.
In Search of Heaven, the Eternal Life - Based on the author's personal experience of being in heaven, this site accurately shares updated knowledge about Jesus, Heaven, God, and Eternal Life with everyone.
Meta Description: [ Learn the untold secrets to heaven's mysteries as the author unveils them, thus uniting the Medical, Scientific and Theological global communities. How? By offering the most undeniable evidences ever recorded in human history. ]
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Merton List - A forum for substantive discourse on research and scholarly inquiry to create and develop knowledge about contemplative and spiritual life within and across multiple traditions, disciplines, and professions. Sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at Marshall University.
Religions of the World - An introduction to the six major religious traditions of the world from the EMuseum at the University of Minnesota. Includes histories and basic beliefs of Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism; glossaries, and links. Use our clickable map showing the geographic concentrations of religious gro
Meta Description: [ An exhibit on the many religions of the world. This includes the beliefs and history of six of the world's most known religions. ]
Religions, Faith Groups, and Ethical Systems - Description of various religions and ethical systems, including Christian denominations, provided by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.
Meta Description: [ World religions ]
| MA in Religious Studies (F57) - a brief introduction | |
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