Beyond Phenomenology: Rethinking the Study of Religion

Description

The aims of this book are to examine the interface between religious studies, critical social theory and cultural theory and to argue for a discourse within religious studies which draws from, and contributes to, wider intellectual debates in the humanities and social sciences. In the context of postmodern criticism, the book seeks to address or revisit the central questions: what is it to understand religion in the contemporary world in which relativism and perspectivalism prevail and an overarching trans-cultural rationality has been severely critiqued?; can a deep understanding of religions be had only by those who live inside them? and what are the ethical issues involved in the intellectual practice of understanding an other? In response to these questions the book seeks to develop an argument linking "dialogue", "reflexivity" and "criticism" which takes seriously the intersubjective nature of research.

Gavin Flood is Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and the author of An Introduction to Hinduism (CUP 2004).

"Those who have appreciated Gavin Flood's work...will not be surprised to learn that this is a thorough and constructive analysis of key ideas within contemporary academic religious studies...two of the book's important contributions are that it finally nails down the myth of phenomenological activity and neutrality, and, that it indicates ways in which particular positions, including faith positions, might legitimately operate within religious studies...an important and stimulating book." --Themelios 26.2 (Spring 2001) "Flood has written a book that will attract a wide group of readers...That his thesis is coherent and clearly stated is beyond question; that he commands an impressive knowledge of theorists within and outside of the study of religion is most evident."--Religious Studies Review "an excellent introduction to the relationship between critical theory and religious studies methodology...a pioneering work."--Culture and Religion "Flood's work is invaluable. He is clearly raising interesting and important issues." - Journal of Contemporary Religion, 2001