The classification of religions and religious classifications: a genre approach to the origin of religions
Scholars have long worried over the fact that the categories of religion that they bring to their scholarship imperfectly match folk classifications of the 'same' religion. The more precisely we attempt to define a religion, the more our target seems to elude our grasp. Here, I argue that...
| Published in: | Culture and religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2015]
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| In: |
Culture and religion
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Religion
/ Classification
/ Rise of
/ Genre theory
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| IxTheo Classification: | AA Study of religion AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Scholars have long worried over the fact that the categories of religion that they bring to their scholarship imperfectly match folk classifications of the 'same' religion. The more precisely we attempt to define a religion, the more our target seems to elude our grasp. Here, I argue that by looking at religions through the lens of genre theory, we can make more sense of both the range of classifications as well as the apparent uniformity assumed by scholars and practitioners at any given moment. Religious classes are nouns. The tack taken by a genre theory is to think of genres as verbs that are either performed by producers or distinguished by critics. When the emphasis shifts to actions and decisions made by individuals, we begin to address the variations and fluctuations that could not be accounted for when religious classes were understood as either objectively or analytically given. Moreover, when religious categories are simply taken as given, we have no way to talk about the origin of new categories (i.e. of new religions). Emphasising the verbal aspect of producing and of criticising allows us to explain the origins of religions as the efforts of producers and critics working in tandem. |
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| ISSN: | 1475-5610 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Culture and religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2015.1090465 |