›Merkwürdige Bundesgenossen‹ und ›Naive Sympathisanten‹
As in North-America and many European countries, in Germany the debate on new religions has caused socio-political disturbances. Different from the United States or Great Britain, studies done in the Sociology of Religion or the History of Religions (Religionswissenschaft) were not able to gain a sa...
| Published in: | Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Diagonal-Verlag
2012
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| In: |
Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | As in North-America and many European countries, in Germany the debate on new religions has caused socio-political disturbances. Different from the United States or Great Britain, studies done in the Sociology of Religion or the History of Religions (Religionswissenschaft) were not able to gain a saying in the debate in Germany. Such empirical investigations, aiming for an objectification of the heated debate, were held down. In this respect the still existing information monopoly of the Christian churches becomes apparent, as Protestant and Catholic >experts on sects< worked to discredit and stigmatise these non-disparaging studies. The paper analyses in detail these patterns and interests, which left the history and sociology of religions societally maginalized. The apparent public insignificance of the History of Religions in Germany is, however, also due to failures of its own. With a few exceptions, scholars failed to acquire an active and critical say within the channelled debate. Furthermore, in general the discipline's particular research approaches are not known to a wider public. The article argues to take up the approach to investigate the so-called »sects« within the broader frame of investigating the phenomenon of new religions, i. e. the coming into existence of religions both in modern and pre-modern times. This wider perspective could help to objectify the debate and at the same would serve to exemplify the specific approaches of the History of Religions. |
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| ISSN: | 2194-508X |
| Contains: | In: Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1515/0023.111 |