Phenomenology of Religion

Abstract

Contemporary phenomenology of religion is afflicted by three vicissitudes: (a) neglect or criticism due to the hegemony of postmodern theories and methods in the study of religions, (b) a multiplicity of phenomenological methods in the study of religions, and (c) the perceived disconnection between philosophical and religious studies approaches to phenomenology. In this article, I intend to show that none of these afflictions are either necessary or fatal to phenomenology of religion. This is accomplished in three steps. After surveying the salient features of philosophical and religious studies approaches to the phenomenology of religion, I propose a general definition of ‘phenomenology of religion’ which demonstrates a unity in the midst of a diversity of approaches. I then argue that phenomenology, thus conceived, can answer the postmodern critiques and can once again become a viable approach to description of religions as well as a first methodological step toward theories of religion.