Religion and Reductionism: Essays on Eliade, Segal, and the Challenge of the Social Sciences for the Study of Religion (Studies in the History of Religions) (Numen Book)

This volume on Religion and Reductionism grew out of a conference convened in November, 1990, where the participants were asked to respond to the conceptual and methodological problem of reductionism in the academic study of religion. The conference focused on the writings of Robert A. Segal and his defence of reductionism and criticism of Mircea Eliade's non-reductive interpretation of religion. At the Miami conference some of the most important and enduring questions were raised: (1) What is religion? (2) What is religion and/or religious meaning? (3) How should religion be studied and taught? (4) What are the possibilities and limits of social scientific analyses of religious phenomena? (5) What is reductionism? (6) What is anti-reductionism? These and other questions on religion and reductionism are widespread and invite serious consideration; they help to illuminate the basic issues that are at the core of any study of the world's major religions This Volume On Religion And Reductionism Grew Out Of A Conference Convened In November, 1990, Where The Participants Were Asked To Respond To The Conceptual And Methodological Problem Of Reductionism In The Academic Study Of Religion. The Conference Focused On The Writings Of Robert A. Segal And His Defence Of Reductionism And Criticism Of Mircea Eliade's Non-reductive Interpretation Of Religion. At The Miami Conference Some Of The Most Important And Enduring Questions Were Raised: 1 What Is Religion? 2 What Is Religion And/or Religious Meaning? 3 How Should Religion Be Studied And Taught? 4 What Are The Possibilities And Limits Of Social Scientific Analyses Of Religious Phenomena? 5 What Is Reductionism? 6 What Is Anti-reductionism? These And Other Questions On Religion And Reductionism Are Widespread And Invite Serious Consideration; They Help To Illuminate The Basic Issues That Are The Core Of Any Study Of The World's Major Religions.--book Jacket. Reductionism In The Study Of Religion / Robert A. Segal -- Are Religious Theories Susceptible To Reduction? / Thomas Ryba -- Clarifying The Strengths And Limits Of Reductionism In The Discipline Of Religion / Edward A. Yonan -- The Instability Of Religious Belief : Some Reductionistic And Eliminative Pressures / Terry F. Godlove, Jr. -- Must Professors Of Religion Be Religious? : On Eliade's Method Of Inquiry And Segal's Defense Of Reductionism / Thomas A. Idinopulos -- Mircea Eliade And The Battle Against Reductionism / Wayne Elzey -- Reduction Without Tears / Ivan Strenski -- Beyond The Sceptic And The Devotee : Reductionism In The Scientific Study Of Religion / Donald Wiebe -- What Is Reductionism? / Arvind Sharma -- Human Reflexivity And The Nonreductive Explanation Of Religious Action / Lorne Dawson -- Religion, Explanation, And The Askesis Of Inquiry / Tony Edwards. Explaining, Endorsing, And Reducing Religion / Daniel Pals -- Before 'the Sacred' Became Theological : Durkheim And Reductionism / William E. Paden -- Reductionism In The Classroom / George Weckman -- Reductions Of A Working Historian / Dan Merkur -- Discourse With Angels : Literature And Religion / Edward Tomarken. Edited By Thomas A. Idinopulos And Edward A. Yonan. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. RELIGION AND REDUCTIONISM: ESSAYS ON ELIADE, SEGAL, AND THE CHALLENGE OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Contributors Introduction PART I The Challenge of the Social Sciences for the Study of Religion 1 Reductionism in the Study of Religion 2 Are Religious Theories Susceptible to Reduction? 3 Clarifying the Strengths and Limits of Reductionismin the Discipline of Religion 4 The Instability of Religious Belief: Some Reductionistic andEliminative Pressures PART II Reductionism, Eliade, and Segal 5 Must Professors of Religion by Religous? On Eliade's Method ofInquiry and Segal's Defense of Reductionism 6 Mircea Eliade and the Battle Against Reductionism 7 Reduction without Tears 8 Beyond the Sceptic and the Devotee: Reductionism in theScientific Study of Religion 9 What is Reductionism? 10 Human Reflexivity and the Nonreductive Explanation of Religous Action 11 Religion, Explanation, and the Askesis of Inquiry 12 Explaining, Endorsing, and Reducing Religion PART III Sources and Applications of Reductionism 13 Before 'The Sacred' Became Theological: Durkheim and Reductionism 14 Reductionism in the Classroom 15 Reductions of a Working Historian 16 Discourse with Angels: literature and Religion Index of Names Index of Subjects STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS NUMEN BOOKSERIES This volume focuses on the writings of Robert A. Segal and his defense of reductionism and criticism of Mircea Eliade's non-reductive interpretation of religion. Related questions on religion and reductionism are explored by major scholars of religion in major departments of religion in the United States and Canada.