Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion
“Ultimacy,” it is argued, is not an area that academic studies in theology nor the study of religion can properly investigate; nevertheless, it is also illegitimate to argue therefore that claims to it are simply linguistic power plays. Using an autobiographical methodology, the author explores how...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Open Theology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2018-0027 |
| _version_ | 1818738492295872512 |
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| author | Hedges Paul |
| author_facet | Hedges Paul |
| author_sort | Hedges Paul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | “Ultimacy,” it is argued, is not an area that academic studies in theology nor the study of religion can properly investigate; nevertheless, it is also illegitimate to argue therefore that claims to it are simply linguistic power plays. Using an autobiographical methodology, the author explores how their own “imagined” “mystical” experience and scholarly studies may shed light on approaching the study of religious experience, noting particularly work by Rudolf Otto, Robert Sharf, Gregory Shushan, and Ann Taves. Reflections are offered on studying religious experience, approaching ultimacy, and the relationship of theological and religious studies. Moreover, some critical and decolonial perspectives are brought to bear both on the author’s own work, academic studies, and contemporary debates around studying what may be termed “mysticism” or religious experience. The author also argues that the autobiographical and reflexive model offered herein may be a useful perspective for scholarship in the study of religion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:09:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd24b3197c6141f5b3d7c23520e4a96a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-6579 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:09:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Theology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd24b3197c6141f5b3d7c23520e4a96a2022-12-21T21:26:08ZengDe GruyterOpen Theology2300-65792018-09-014135537210.1515/opth-2018-0027opth-2018-0027Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of ReligionHedges Paul0Nanyang Technological University,Jurong West, Singapore“Ultimacy,” it is argued, is not an area that academic studies in theology nor the study of religion can properly investigate; nevertheless, it is also illegitimate to argue therefore that claims to it are simply linguistic power plays. Using an autobiographical methodology, the author explores how their own “imagined” “mystical” experience and scholarly studies may shed light on approaching the study of religious experience, noting particularly work by Rudolf Otto, Robert Sharf, Gregory Shushan, and Ann Taves. Reflections are offered on studying religious experience, approaching ultimacy, and the relationship of theological and religious studies. Moreover, some critical and decolonial perspectives are brought to bear both on the author’s own work, academic studies, and contemporary debates around studying what may be termed “mysticism” or religious experience. The author also argues that the autobiographical and reflexive model offered herein may be a useful perspective for scholarship in the study of religion.https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2018-0027religious experiencemysticismautobiographymethodologyreflexivityreligious studiestheologyultimatedecolonization |
| spellingShingle | Hedges Paul Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion Open Theology religious experience mysticism autobiography methodology reflexivity religious studies theology ultimate decolonization |
| title | Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion |
| title_full | Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion |
| title_fullStr | Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion |
| title_short | Encounters with Ultimacy?: Autobiographical and Critical Perspectives in the Academic Study of Religion |
| title_sort | encounters with ultimacy autobiographical and critical perspectives in the academic study of religion |
| topic | religious experience mysticism autobiography methodology reflexivity religious studies theology ultimate decolonization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2018-0027 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hedgespaul encounterswithultimacyautobiographicalandcriticalperspectivesintheacademicstudyofreligion |