RELIGIÓN: ¿SABEMOS DE LO QUE ESTAMOS HABLANDO? EXAMEN SOBRE LA VIABILIDAD DE UNA CATEGORÍA ANALÍTICA PARA LAS CIENCIAS SOCIALES
This article presents an updated revision of the different definitions of the concept of “religion” in the social sciences. The objective of this revision was to find an analytical category that is precise, clear and sufficiently broad to empirically study the wide range of sociocultural...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Libre
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Revista Criterio Libre |
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unilibre.edu.co/index.php/criteriolibre/article/view/5008/4278 |
| Summary: | This article presents an updated revision of the different definitions of the concept of “religion” in the social sciences. The objective of this revision was to find an analytical category that is precise, clear and sufficiently broad to empirically study the wide range of sociocultural phenomena that can be or have been considered “religious”, even if they are not necessarily found in organized communities, or in institutionalized religions. However, the results of this revision show that the definitions are numerous, divergent, and many of them are ambiguous and imprecise, which is why any attempt at systematization is hindered and the analytical distinction between religious and other types of sociocultural phenomena is problematized. Without pretending to argue in favor of one of the definitions, the need to carefully use any of them is pointed out here, since each definition entails cultural specificities, biases and limitations that highlight certain aspects of reality, while hiding others. It is concluded that the lack of clarity and consensus on the subject can generate confusion and important misunderstandings in the academic community, which impedes the construction of scientific knowledge. Despite the absence of a unified analytical category, it is observed that some of the most prominent elements in the various definitions can constitute, in themselves, useful analytical categories for empirical research |
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| ISSN: | 1900-0642 2323-0886 |