Objectivity and the scientific study of religion
The concern for and the debate on “objectivity” in the scientific study of religions led scholars to advocate two major approaches known as “History of Religion” and “Phenomenology of Religion.” Both approaches are claimed to be “descriptive” and “value-free” as they stringently enforce the principl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IIUM Press
2009
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/1/Objectivity_and_the_Scientific_Study_of_Religion.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848775774782357504 |
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| author | Thoha, Anis Malik |
| author_facet | Thoha, Anis Malik |
| author_sort | Thoha, Anis Malik |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The concern for and the debate on “objectivity” in the scientific study of religions led scholars to advocate two major approaches known as “History of Religion” and “Phenomenology of Religion.” Both approaches are claimed to be “descriptive” and “value-free” as they stringently enforce the principle of epochê or distanciation to ensure objectivity. However, there are scholars who argue that objectivity (be it “descriptive” or “value-free”) is ontologically questionable and epistemologically impossible. It is a self defeating concept and a myth. They argue that objectivity is principally and directly concerned with “the object” under investigation regardless of the types of approach used. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T14:19:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-920 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T14:19:33Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | IIUM Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-9202011-07-12T07:20:52Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/ Objectivity and the scientific study of religion Thoha, Anis Malik BL Religion The concern for and the debate on “objectivity” in the scientific study of religions led scholars to advocate two major approaches known as “History of Religion” and “Phenomenology of Religion.” Both approaches are claimed to be “descriptive” and “value-free” as they stringently enforce the principle of epochê or distanciation to ensure objectivity. However, there are scholars who argue that objectivity (be it “descriptive” or “value-free”) is ontologically questionable and epistemologically impossible. It is a self defeating concept and a myth. They argue that objectivity is principally and directly concerned with “the object” under investigation regardless of the types of approach used. IIUM Press 2009 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/1/Objectivity_and_the_Scientific_Study_of_Religion.pdf Thoha, Anis Malik (2009) Objectivity and the scientific study of religion. Intellectual Discourse, 17 (1). pp. 83-92. ISSN 0128-4878 http://www.iium.edu.my/intdiscourse/index.php/islam/article/view/7/pdf |
| spellingShingle | BL Religion Thoha, Anis Malik Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title | Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title_full | Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title_fullStr | Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title_short | Objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| title_sort | objectivity and the scientific study of religion |
| topic | BL Religion |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/920/1/Objectivity_and_the_Scientific_Study_of_Religion.pdf |