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'''Religion''' is the most rigid and unyielding of all [[human]] institutions, but it does tardily adjust to changing society. Eventually, evolutionary religion does reflect the changing mores, which, in turn, may have been affected by revealed religion. Slowly, surely, but grudgingly, does religion ([[worship]]) follow in the wake of [[wisdom]]--[[knowledge]] directed by experiential [[rationality|reason]] and illuminated by [[divine]] [[revelation]].[http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper92.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper92.html&line=47#mfs]

'''Religion''' is the most rigid and unyielding of all [[human]] institutions, but it does tardily adjust to changing society. Eventually, evolutionary religion does reflect the changing mores, which, in turn, may have been affected by revealed religion. Slowly, surely, but grudgingly, does religion ([[worship]]) follow in the wake of [[wisdom]]--[[knowledge]] directed by experiential [[rationality|reason]] and illuminated by [[divine]] [[revelation]].[https://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=https://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper92.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper92.html&line=47#mfs]

 

While theologians attempt to understand the subject [[matter]] of religion from within a particular religious tradition, [[Intellectual|scholars]] of religion study [[human]] religious [[behavior]] and [[belief]] from outside any particular religious viewpoint. Religious studies draws upon multiple disciplines and their methodologies including [[anthropology]], [[sociology]], [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[history]] of religion.  

While theologians attempt to understand the subject [[matter]] of religion from within a particular religious tradition, [[Intellectual|scholars]] of religion study [[human]] religious [[behavior]] and [[belief]] from outside any particular religious viewpoint. Religious studies draws upon multiple disciplines and their methodologies including [[anthropology]], [[sociology]], [[psychology]], [[philosophy]], and [[history]] of religion.  

==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 [https://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''.

==History of Religious Studies==  

==History of Religious Studies==  

Interest in the general study of religion dates back to at least [[Hecataeus of Miletus]] ([[ca.]] 550 [[Common Era|BCE]] – ca. 476 BCE) and [[Herodotus]] (ca. 484 BCE – 425 BCE). Later, during the [[Middle Ages]], [[Islam]]ic scholars studied [[Zoroastrianism|Persian]], [[Judaism|Jewish]], [[Christianity|Christian]], and [[Hinduism|Indian]] belief and practice. The first history of religion was the ''Treatise on the Religious and Philosophical Sects'' (1127 CE), written by the Muslim scholar [[Muhammad al-Shahrastani]]. [[Peter the Venerable]], also working in the twelfth century, studied Islam and made possible a Latin translation of the [[Koran|Qur'an]].  

Interest in the general study of religion dates back to at least [[Hecataeus of Miletus]] ([[ca.]] 550 [[Common Era|BCE]] – ca. 476 BCE) and [[Herodotus]] (ca. 484 BCE – 425 BCE). Later, during the [[Middle Ages]], [[Islam]]ic scholars studied [[Zoroastrianism|Persian]], [[Judaism|Jewish]], [[Christianity|Christian]], and [[Hinduism|Indian]] belief and practice. The first history of religion was the ''Treatise on the Religious and Philosophical Sects'' (1127 CE), written by the Muslim scholar [[Muhammad al-Shahrastani]]. [[Peter the Venerable]], also working in the twelfth century, studied Islam and made possible a Latin translation of the [[Koran|Qur'an]].  

Notwithstanding the long interest in the study of religion, the academic discipline Religious Studies is relatively new. Dr. Chris Partridge notes that the "first professorships were established as recently as the final quarter of the nineteenth century."[http://www.uccf.org.uk/yourcourse/rtsf/docs/academicstudyofreligion.pdf]  

Notwithstanding the long interest in the study of religion, the academic discipline Religious Studies is relatively new. Dr. Chris Partridge notes that the "first professorships were established as recently as the final quarter of the nineteenth century."[https://www.uccf.org.uk/yourcourse/rtsf/docs/academicstudyofreligion.pdf]  

In the nineteenth century, the study of religion was done through the eyes of science. [[Max Müller]] was the first Professor of Comparative Religion at Oxford University, a chair created especially for him. In his ''Introduction to the Science of Religion'' (1873) he wrote that it is "the duty of those who have devoted their life to the study of the principal religions of the world in their original documents, and who value and reverence it in whatever form it may present itself, to take possession of this new territory in the name of true science."  

In the nineteenth century, the study of religion was done through the eyes of science. [[Max Müller]] was the first Professor of Comparative Religion at Oxford University, a chair created especially for him. In his ''Introduction to the Science of Religion'' (1873) he wrote that it is "the duty of those who have devoted their life to the study of the principal religions of the world in their original documents, and who value and reverence it in whatever form it may present itself, to take possession of this new territory in the name of true science."  

*Phenomenologists tend to recognize the role of description in universal, a priori, or "eidetic" terms as prior to explanation by means of causes, purposes, or grounds; and

*Phenomenologists tend to recognize the role of description in universal, a priori, or "eidetic" terms as prior to explanation by means of causes, purposes, or grounds; and

*Phenomenologists tend to debate whether or not what Husserl calls the transcendental phenomenological epochê and reduction is useful or even possible. [http://www.phenomenologycenter.org/phenom.htm source]

*Phenomenologists tend to debate whether or not what Husserl calls the transcendental phenomenological epochê and reduction is useful or even possible. [https://www.phenomenologycenter.org/phenom.htm source]

For the more general philosophical movement of phenomenology, see the [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/  Phenomenology article] in the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''.

For the more general philosophical movement of phenomenology, see the [https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/phenomenology/  Phenomenology article] in the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy''.

===Functionalism===

===Functionalism===

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://rra.hartsem.edu/ The Religious Research Association]

*[https://rra.hartsem.edu/ The Religious Research Association]

*[http://www.sssrweb.org/ The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)]

*[https://www.sssrweb.org/ The Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)]

*[http://www.americanreligion.org/ The Institute for the Study of American Religion]

*[https://www.americanreligion.org/ The Institute for the Study of American Religion]

*[http://www.warwick.ac.uk/sisr/English.htm The International Society for the Sociology of Religion]

*[https://www.warwick.ac.uk/sisr/English.htm The International Society for the Sociology of Religion]

===Academic Societies===

===Academic Societies===

*[http://www.aarweb.org/ AAR- American Academy of Religion].

*[https://www.aarweb.org/ AAR- American Academy of Religion].

*[http://www.easr.de/ EASR- European Association for the Study of Religions].

*[https://www.easr.de/ EASR- European Association for the Study of Religions].

*[http://www.iahr.dk/ IAHR-International Association for the History of Religion].

*[https://www.iahr.dk/ IAHR-International Association for the History of Religion].

*[http://www.cssr.org/ The Council of Societies for the Study of Religion].

*[https://www.cssr.org/ The Council of Societies for the Study of Religion].

*[http://www.naasr.com/ North American Association for the Study of Religion (NAASR)].

*[https://www.naasr.com/ North American Association for the Study of Religion (NAASR)].

*[http://www.sssrweb.org/ Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)].

*[https://www.sssrweb.org/ Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)].

===Online Works and Sources===

===Online Works and Sources===

*[http://www.as.ua.edu/rel/studyingreligion.html Studying Religion: An Introduction]

*[https://www.as.ua.edu/rel/studyingreligion.html Studying Religion: An Introduction]

*[http://www.as.ua.edu/rel/whystudyreligion.html What is the Academic Study of Religion? A Student's Perspective].

*[https://www.as.ua.edu/rel/whystudyreligion.html What is the Academic Study of Religion? A Student's Perspective].

*[http://falcon.jmu.edu/~omearawm/ph101willtobelieve.html ''The Will to Believe''].

*[https://falcon.jmu.edu/~omearawm/ph101willtobelieve.html ''The Will to Believe''].

*[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/122/story_12272.html ''Buddhism's Other Option''].

*[https://www.beliefnet.com/story/122/story_12272.html ''Buddhism's Other Option''].

*[http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2003/dalailama-similar-0917.html ''Dalai Lama enlists science in quest for 'a happy mind'''].

*[https://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2003/dalailama-similar-0917.html ''Dalai Lama enlists science in quest for 'a happy mind'''].

*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2003/godonbraintrans.shtml ''God on the Brain - transcript''].

*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2003/godonbraintrans.shtml ''God on the Brain - transcript''].

*[http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/functionalism.htm Functionalism]

*[https://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/functionalism.htm Functionalism]

*Partridge, Chris.  ''[http://www.uccf.org.uk/yourcourse/rtsf/docs/academicstudyofreligion.pdf The Academic Study of Religion]''

*Partridge, Chris.  ''[https://www.uccf.org.uk/yourcourse/rtsf/docs/academicstudyofreligion.pdf The Academic Study of Religion]''

*[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/146/story_14684_1.html?rnd=46 U.S. Hinduism Studies: A Question of Shoddy Scholarship]

*[https://www.beliefnet.com/story/146/story_14684_1.html?rnd=46 U.S. Hinduism Studies: A Question of Shoddy Scholarship]

*[http://www.indiacause.com/columns/OL_040912.htm Biases in Hinduism studies]

*[https://www.indiacause.com/columns/OL_040912.htm Biases in Hinduism studies]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]