‘Religious Literacy’: Some Considerations and Reservations
In recent years “religious literacy” advocacy has gained a significant following, both academic and non-academic. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that attainment of religious literacy (and the reduction of religious illiteracy – ignorance about religions, either explicitly or by implication) will...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2022
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In: |
Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2022, Volume: 34, Issue: 5, Pages: 407-434 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Knowledge
/ Religion
/ Religious education
/ Literacy
/ Science of Religion
/ Theology
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IxTheo Classification: | AA Study of religion AH Religious education FA Theology |
Further subjects: | B
AAR
B Harvey Graff B Steven Prothero B ex-theology B Diane Moore B literacy myth B Religious Literacy |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | In recent years “religious literacy” advocacy has gained a significant following, both academic and non-academic. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that attainment of religious literacy (and the reduction of religious illiteracy – ignorance about religions, either explicitly or by implication) will bring social benefits or cure societal ills. Yet, the term “religious literacy” itself remains poorly defined; neither have the benefits touted by advocates of “religious literacy” been subjected to empirical testing. Instead, reasons for the ready adoption of the term can be found in its particular genealogy, and in its relation to advocacies for other “literacies”. Moreover, especially the advocacy of basic literacy (i.e., of literacy, literally speaking) is historically entangled with Christian theologies and other ideologies, a history giving rise to what Harvey Graff once called the “literacy myth” linking increased literacy to social improvements or progress. Thus, finally, the particular resonance of “religious literacy” in Religious Studies and related academic circles may reflect the inescapable historical character of our particular academic enterprise as “ex-theological.” |
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ISSN: | 1570-0682 |
Reference: | Kommentar in "How Do You Solve a Problem Like ‘Religious Literacy’?: Thinking with Wolfart’s ‘Religious Literacy’ Reservations (2022)"
Kommentar in "A Response to Wolfart’s “Religious Literacy”: Some Considerations and Reservations (2022)" Kommentar in "Survivals: The Stakes of Religious Literacy (2022)" Kommentar in "Worldview Literacy as Educational Praxis: A Response to ‘Religious Literacy’: Some Considerations and Reservations’, Johannes C. Wolfart (2022)" Kommentar in "Reflections on Wolfart, Challenges to Religious Literacy, and Course Design (2022)" Kommentar in "Religious Literacy as Religion Literacy: A Response from the UK (2022)" |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Method & theory in the study of religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700682-bja10074 |