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==Intellectual foundation and background==
==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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James William James]. His 1902 [[Gifford Lectures|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.
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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James William James]. His 1902 [[Gifford Lectures|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 [[Protestantism|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''.
[[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 [[Protestantism|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''.
