A New Science : The Discovery of Religion in the Age of Reason

We see the word "religion" everywhere, yet do we understand what it means, and is there a consistent worldwide understanding? Who discovered religion and in what context? In A New Science, Guy Stroumsa offers an innovative and powerful argument that the comparative study of religion finds its origin in early modern Europe. The world in which this new category emerged was marked by three major historical and intellectual phenomena: the rise of European empires, that gave birth to ethnological curiosity; the Reformation, which permanently altered Christianity; and the invention of philology, a discipline that transformed Western intellectual thought. Against this complex historical backdrop, Stroumsa guides us through the lives and writings of the men who came to define the word "religion." As Stroumsa boldly argues, the modern study of religion, a new science, was made possible through a dialectical process between Catholic and Protestant scholars. Ancient Israelite religion, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Manichaeanism, Zoroastrianism, the sacred beliefs of the New World, and those of Greece, Rome, India, and China, composed the complex ground upon which "religion, " a most modern category, was discovered. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 Table of Contents......Page 3 Preface......Page 4 The Study of Religion as Cultural Criticism......Page 7 1. A New World: Religions Unthinkable......Page 14 2. A New Science: Explorers of Religions......Page 19 1. Antiquitates Judaicae: The Early Modern Study of Israelite Religion......Page 26 2. Homeros Hebraios: Homer and the Bible at the Origins of European Culture......Page 31 III. From Biblical Philology to the Study of Judaism......Page 38 1. Noah's Sons and the Religous Conquest of the Earth......Page 45 2. Idolatry and Its Roots......Page 51 1. The Prophet of Iran and Zoroastrianism......Page 57 2. The Birth of Manichaean Studies......Page 63 VI. From Mohammedis Imposturae to the Three Impostors: The Study of Islam and the Enlightenment......Page 69 1. Chinese Atheism and the Querelle des Rites......Page 79 2. Enlightenment Perceptions of Roman Religion......Page 81 Epilogue: From Ritual to Myth......Page 86 Introduction......Page 91 I. Pardigm Shift......Page 93 II. Respublica Hebraeorum......Page 95 III. From Biblical Philology to the Study of Judaism......Page 98 IV. Biblical Myth, Religious History, and Idolatry......Page 100 V. Iranian Religions and the Idea of Dualism......Page 102 VI. From Mohammedis Imposturae to the Three Impostors......Page 105 VII. From China to Rome......Page 109 Epilogue......Page 112 Acknowledgments......Page 114 Index of Names......Page 115 Index of Subjects......Page 117 Guy Stroumsa Offers An Innovative And Powerful Argument That The Comparative Study Of Religion Finds Its Origin In Early Modern Europe. --from Publisher Description. Introduction: The Study Of Religion As Cultural Criticism -- I. Paradigm Shift : Exploring The World's Religions -- 1. A New World: Religions Unthinkable -- 2. A New Science: Explores Of Religions -- Ii. Respublica Hebraeorum : Biblical Religion And European Culture -- 1. Antiquitates Judaicae: The Early Modern Study Of Israelite Religion -- 2. Homeros Hebraios: Homer And The Bible At The Origins Of European Culture -- Iii. From Biblical Philology To The Study Of Judaism -- Iv. Biblical Myth, Religious History, And Idolatry -- 1. Noah's Sons And The Religious Conquest Of The Earth -- 2. Idolatry And Its Roots -- V. Iranian Religions And The Idea Of Dualism -- 1. The Prophet Of Iran And Zoroastrianism -- 2. The Birth Of Manichaean Studies -- Vi. From Mohammedis Imposturae To The Three Imposters : The Study Of Islam And The Enlightenment -- Vii. From China To Rome : The Discovery Of Civil Religion -- 1. Chinese Atheism And The Querelle Des Rites -- 2. Enlightenment Perceptions Of Roman Religion -- Epilogue: From Ritual To Myth. Guy G. Stroumsa. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. We see the word "religion" everywhere, yet do we understand what itmeans, and is there a consistent worldwide understanding? Whodiscovered religion and in what context? In A New Science,Guy Stroumsa offers an innovative and powerfulargument that the comparative study of religion finds its origin inearly modern Europe. The world in which this new category emergedwas marked by three major historical and intellectual phenomena:the rise of European empires, that gave birth to ethnologicalcuriosity; the Reformation, which permanently altered Christianity;and the invention of philology, a discipline that transformedWestern intellectual thought. Against this complex historicalbackdrop, Stroumsa guides us through the lives and writings of themen who came to define the word "religion." As Stroumsa boldlyargues, the modern study of religion, a new science, was madepossible through a dialectical process between Catholic andProtestant scholars. Ancient Israelite religion, Judaism,Christianity, Islam, Manichaeanism, Zoroastrianism, the sacredbeliefs of the New World, and those of Greece, Rome, India, andChina, composed the complex ground upon which "religion," a mostmodern category, was discovered