How to Do Comparative Religion: Three Ways, Many Goals (Religion and Reason) (Religion and Reason)

Well-known scholars in the study of religions bring up to date and elucidate the discussion on the three most debated approaches in comparative religion, namely, the hermeneutical approach, the explanatory or cognitivist approach, and the critical approach. The approaches and methods of studying religion are disputed in an outspoken and challenging way, critically and radically arguing pros and cons. This work is unique, unrivalled, and full of essential insights into the dialogue of today and of the challenges of tomorrow. Understanding religion Introduction / Rene Gothoni Major contributions of philosophical phenomenology and hermeneutics to the study of religion / Douglas Allen Phenonomenology of religion : between 'given' and constructed / Teuvo Laitila Going, going, gone, or how i fail to gain hermeneutic understanding / Tom Sjoblom Phenomenology as a preliminary method / Terhi Utriainen Response / Douglas Allen Explaining religion Introduction / Ilkka Pyysininen Beyond thick descriptions and interpretive sciences: explaining religious meaning / Donald Wiebe The limits of explaining in religious studies / Nils G. Holm Science/religion controversy, are the grounds of naturalism still valid for their confrontation? / Veikko Anttonen Understanding the other / Renr Gothoni Response / Donald Wiebe Critical approaches in the comparative study of religion Introduction / Tuula Sakaranaho Methodology, tool or trap? : comments from a feminist perspective / Rita M. Gross Research and sexual difference / Elisa Heinimski When is methodology a trap? / Kimmo Ketola Skyhooks and toeholds in the study of religion / Teemu Taira Response / Rita M. Gross Main description: Well-known scholars in the study of religions bring up to date and elucidate the discussion on the three most debated approaches in comparative religion, namely, the hermeneutical approach, the explanatory or cognitivist approach, and the critical approach. The approaches and methods of studying religion are disputed in an outspoken and challenging way, critically and radically arguing pros and cons. This work is unique, unrivalled, and full of essential insights into the dialogue of today and of the challenges of tomorrow Annotation Well-known scholars in the study of religions bring up to date and elucidate the discussion on the three most debated approaches in comparative religion, namely, the hermeneutical approach, the explanatory or cognitivist approach, and the critical approach. The approaches and methods of studying religion are disputed in an outspoken and challenging way, critically and radically arguing pros and cons. This work is unique, unrivalled, and full of essential insights into the dialogue of today and of the challenges of tomorrow Well-known scholars in the study of religions bring up to date and elucidate the discussion on the three most debated approaches in comparative religion, namely, the hermeneutical, the explanatory or cognitivist and the critical one. The approaches, standpoints and methods of studying religion are disputed in an outspoken and challenging way, critically and radically arguing pros and cons. Full of essential insights into the dialogue of today and of the challenges of tomorrow, the work remains unique and unrivalled. Renommierte Religionswissenschaftler erläutern und diskutieren die drei wichtigsten Ansätze der vergleichenden Religionswissenschaft auf dem neuesten Stand der Forschung: den hermeneutischen, den kognitivistischen und den kritischen. Die Ansätze, Standpunkte und Methoden der Religionswissenschaft werden unter kritischer Abwägung des Für und Wider gründlich und offensiv diskutiert. Das ermöglicht ein grundlegendes Verständnis des aktuellen Dialogs und künftiger Herausforderungen