Neutrality in the Study of Religion

The Archive is a feature of the Bulletin in which previous publications are reprinted to reinforce the modern relevance of archived arguments. “Neutrality in the Study of Religion,” originally published in 1981, comes from Dr. John H. Whittaker (1945-2019), who was the Department Chair of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Louisiana State University until 2006. This article is relevant 30 years after its original publication, as it explores an ongoing debate in the field: the limits of objectivity in religious studies. Whittaker critiques a claim made by sociologist Robert Bellah in order to argue that religion can and should be taught from what he terms a “neutral” standpoint that encourages critical inquiry. The role of the scholar of religion as a researcher, observer, and teacher is one that remains contended across the field of religious studies today.

Modern Yoga Research as a Discursive Formation

The practice of yoga is on the rise, as much as its academic scrutiny. Scholars, especially within the disciplinary boundaries of religious studies, South Asian studies, Indology, anthropology, and sociology, have recently started to critically inquire into the birth and transnational developments of modern forms of yoga, tracing their genealogies and textual roots. This expanding literature has in turn contributed to the constitution of the emergent and multidisciplinary field of modern yoga research, or yoga studies. The primary aim of this article is thus to analyze the field of modern yoga research as a ‘discursive formation’ (Foucault [1971]1972), that is, an ensemble of texts constituting – or contributing to the constitution of – a specific object of analysis, namely modern yoga. In so doing, it also aims to contribute to the advancement of the discursive study of religion more in general. The article relies on a ‘discursive study of religion’ approach (e.g., von Stockrad 2003, 2010, 2013) with a focus on its archaeological leaning (e.g., Foucault 1965, 1972, [1963] 1973, [1966] 2002). More specifically, I underline the affinity that modern yoga research’s discursive references have with a number of discursive currents that characterize the disciplines it emerged from, such as radical historicism, cultural relativism, modernism, Orientalism and neo-colonialism. Finally, I conclude by summarizing the main results of this contribution and exploring their relevance to the self-reflexive development of the overlapping fields of cultural analyses and the study of religion.

Mark Eaton—A Non-traditional Path to Librarianship

In The Profession the Bulletin showcases some of the creative ways the study of religion can be put to use in and beyond academia. The Bulletin staff sat down with Mark Eaton, a librarian at The City University of New York (CUNY), which consists of 25 campuses and 31 libraries. Mark Eaton obtained his Bachelor of Arts in religious studies at McGill University before receiving a Master of Information Studies in library studies at the University of Toronto and later, a Master of Arts in religious studies at Queens University. Between his degrees, Eaton worked at the London Metropolitan University Library, at a bakery, and on a farm. Eaton describes how his journey in academia and various professions led him down an unexpected, but fulfilling, path.

TEORI PERTUKARAN SOSIAL TENTANG FENOMENA DAKWAH DI EKS LOKALISASI DADAPAN

This study aims to find out how the role of the preacher in bringing changes to the social conditions of the people who used to work in the Dadapan prostitution localization, Kediri City. Da'i plays an important role as a propagator of religion to protect the community. Thus, the relationship between the preacher and his community must be close regardless of the background or social conditions of the community. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method and is equipped with George Homans' social exchange theory, namely as an analytical tool to understand and seek clarity of cases so that researchers know more clearly about the phenomenon of da'wah in the ex-Dadapan localization community. The results of this study conclude that the da'wah process that occurs in Dadapan Village in social exchange theory explains that they are willing to interact when the interaction produces benefits for themselves. Therefore, in the dynamics of increasing religious understanding in the ex-Dadapan localization, it is necessary to have a reward given so that people want to interact in discussing religious studies.

REVISITING JAVANESE ISLAM

This article tends to revisiting Javanese Islamic studies. This study began from the European travelers’ period who noted some aspects of society such as the religious life. Those notes show the negative label that is addressed to the Javanese religious practices. These negative labels are often reproduced in Javanese Islam studies to this day. This article argues that the negative labels in Javanese Islamic studies tend to be misrepresentative. These kinds of results cannot be separated from certain paradigms in religious studies. There are two paradigms in the study of religion which are discussed in this article. First, the world religion paradigm. This paradigm, consciously or not, is often used in Javanese Islamic studies. The implication is Javanese religious practices are often portrayed as animist, syncretic, and so on. Second, the indigenous religion paradigm. This article elaborates this paradigm because of its potential in understanding Javanese Islamic religious practice more properly. The basis of this paradigm is intersubjective relation with ethical commitment, responsibility, and reciprocity.

Religionsphilosophie

What is religion? Is it sensible to live according to a certain faith? Do science and religion contradict each other? Is there a god? Are we immortal? Questions like these are part of the philosophy of religion, to whose main problems and theories this book provides a comprehensive introduction. It introduces core issues of contemporary philosophy of religion in 14 didactically edited chapters, and describes and discusses classical and modern approaches. The book is intended for students of philosophy, theology and religious studies, but will also appeal to other readers interested in philosophy and religion. It can also be used as a textbook in an introductory course on the philosophy of religion.

Keeping Theology and Religious Studies Together

In this article, I offer some personal reflections on the developments NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of Religion has gone through in recent years. Moreover, I argue that the continuing existence of journals like NTT JTSR is important for three reasons. (1) This type of general journals counterbalances the overspecialization that characterizes today’s universities. (2) Their rootedness in particular geographical areas and political entities makes that this type of journal makes a distinctive contribution to theology and religious studies. (3) It is important that this journal keeps theology and religious studies together in one journal, for in spite of centrifugal forces at work, they belong together.

No Country for Muslims? The Invention of an Islam Républicain in France and Its Impact on French Muslims

Since the beheading of the French teacher Samuel Paty on 16 October 2020, the call for a fight against the so-called ‘Political Islam’ has been heard once again, not only in France, but all over Europe (EU). The politicization of Islam is held to be responsible for the increasing attacks by radical Islamic actors within European metropoles, and the EU states’ call for action and revenge in response to this ideology and its adherents, in order to guarantee public security and democratic values. Starting from the major terrorist attacks in France in the last few years, this paper seeks to compare the interlinking between domestic policy and religious radicalization and its impact on neighboring states. With regard to the attacks on 13 November 2015 in France, the attackers were traced back to radical networks in Belgium and Germany. Based on selected interviews that have been conducted by the author with female adherents of jihadist milieus within the years 2015 and 2016 in France and social media examples of Muslim reactions on the current French law enforcement, the tension between domestic policy and religious freedom related to Islam in France will be highlighted in this article. Among other reasons, the interview quotations and social media reactions can be seen as a result of a specific religious understanding and practice related to Islam by some actors. In addition, the ongoing othering of Muslims by France and other European societies can be seen to be in sum to be responsible for the increasing interest of young Muslims in radical Islamic thought that led to jihadist attacks within France in the not-so-distant past. With respect to the aforementioned development, this article will conceptualize the problematique of a (politically motivated) category formation related to one religion that is currently practiced in France, as seen from the perspective of a religious studies scholar.

Emerging Christianity: what do we know and how?

This article, the second in a series, briefly describes the main problems connected with the reconstruction of emerging Christianity. First of all, it is the scarcity of historical sources. They speak almost exclusively about religious beliefs and leave aside all other aspects of life. Then, it is the clearly expressed interest of both ancient authors and modern researchers to present a “rightful” and ideal picture. As a result, emerges an idealized image of such a Christian community that a modern scholar would like to belong to. A possible methodological solution to this problem can be found in the model of religious studies suggested by the modern German scholar Gerd Theissen. Concerning the practical method, one can suggest an analysis of the polemics as reflected in the early Christian texts, mainly epistles.