The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge: Some Methodological Questions

Ninian Smart

Published by Princeton University Press 1973

The Science of Religion and the Sociology of Knowledge

Some Methodological Questions

Ninian Smart

Volume 1841 in the series Princeton Legacy Library

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400868889

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Contents

About this book

Ambitiously undertaking to develop a strategy for making the study of religion "scientific," Ninian Smart tackles a set of interrelated issues that bear importantly on the status of religion as an academic discipline. He draws a clear distinction between studying religion and "doing theology," and considers how phenomenological method may be used in investigating objects of religious attitudes without presupposing the existence of God or gods. He goes on to criticize projectionist theories of religion (notably Berger's) and theories of rationality in both religion and anthropology.

On this basis he builds a theory of religious dynamics which gives religious ideas and entities an autonomous place in the sociology of knowledge. His overall purpose is thus "to indicate ways forward in the study of religion which free it from being crypto-apologetics or elevating poetry."

Originally published in 1973.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
1. The Science of Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Religion and Theology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
3. The Nature of the Phenomenological Objects of Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	49
4. Religion and Projection Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	74
5. Religion and Rationality Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	92
6. Within and Without Religion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	110
7. Compatibilities and Religious Materials Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	135
8. Further Reflections Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	149
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	165