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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 [[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]].[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]

'Religious '''studies''' is the [[academia|academic]] field of multi-disciplinary, [[secular]] study of [[religion|religious]] beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically-based, and cross-cultural perspectives. (For material in [[Nordan Corpora]], follow this link: [http://www.nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Religion])

'Religious '''studies''' is the [[Intellectual|academic]] field of multi-disciplinary study of [[religion|religious]] [[belief]]s, [[behavior]]s, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically-based, and cross-cultural perspectives. (For material in [[Nordan Corpora]], follow this link: [http://www.nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Religion])

While theologians attempt to understand the subject matter of religion from within a particular religious tradition, 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 of religion|anthropology]], [[sociology of religion|sociology]], [[psychology of religion|psychology]], [[philosophy of religion|philosophy]], and [[history of religions|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.  

Religions studies originated in late 19th century in Europe, when scholarly and historical analysis of the Bible had flourished, and Hindu and Buddhist texts were first being translated into European languages. Early influential scholars included [[Friedrich Max Müller]], in England, and [[Cornelius P. Tiele]], in the Netherlands. Today religious studies is practiced by scholars worldwide.   

Religions studies originated in late 19th century in Europe, when scholarly and historical [[analysis]] of the [[Bible]] had flourished, and Hindu and Buddhist [[text]]s were first being translated into European languages. Early influential scholars included [[Friedrich Max Müller]], in England, and [[Cornelius P. Tiele]], in the Netherlands. Today religious studies is practiced by scholars worldwide.   

In its early years, it was known as '''Comparative Religion''' or the '''Science of Religion''' and, in the USA, 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). The field is known as ''Religionswissenschaft'' in Germany and ''Sciences de la religion'' in the French-speaking world.

In its early years, it was known as '''Comparative Religion''' or the '''Science of Religion''' and, in the USA, 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). The field is known as ''Religionswissenschaft'' in Germany and ''Sciences de la religion'' in the French-speaking world.

==Religious Studies vs. Theology==

==Religious Studies vs. Theology==

Western philosophy of religion, as the basic ancestor of modern religious studies, is differentiated from the many Eastern philosophical traditions by generally being written from a third party perspective. The scholar need not be a believer. [[Theology]] stands in contrast to the philosophy of religion and religious studies in that, generally, the scholar is first and foremost a believer employing both logic ''and'' scripture as evidence. At least one theologian has noted that one can study and analyze a symphony to understand it in great detail, but it is the listening that is of greatest significance.

Western [[philosophy]] of religion, as the basic ancestor of modern religious studies, is differentiated from the many Eastern philosophical traditions by generally being written from a third party perspective. The scholar need not be a believer. [[Theology]] stands in contrast to the philosophy of religion and religious studies in that, generally, the scholar is first and foremost a believer employing both [[logic]] ''and'' [[scripture]] as evidence. At least one theologian has noted that one can study and analyze a symphony to understand it in great detail, but it is the listening that is of greatest significance.

==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 [[Pragmatism|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.

[[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''.

[[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==