Ideology, Ideology-Critique, and the Critical Study of Religion in Bruce Lincoln’s Gods and Demons, Priests and Scholars
Critical Explorations in the History of Religions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/bsor.v42i2.2Keywords:
Karl Marx, ideology, critical theory, definition of religionAbstract
This article is a review essay of Lincoln's latest book, contextualizing it within the general field of his previous work. The article situates Lincoln's work with respect to ideology critique mainly in the theoretical tradition of Marx and his critique of religion. It is argued that Lincoln's diagnosis of the current state of the study of religion remains captive to the current regulating practices deriving from some postmodern ideas, political correctness, and the hegemony of theology in 'religious' studies in the academy and its major professional association.
References
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Fitzgerald, Tim. 2006. “Bruce Lincoln’s ‘Theses on Method’: Antithesis.” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 18: 392–423.
Hewitt, Marsha Aileen. 2010. “Religion and Violence: A Psychoanalytic Inquiry.” In Chasing Down Religion: In the Sights of History and the Cognitive Sciences, edited by Panayotis Pachis and Donald Wiebe, 171-196. Thessaloniki: Barbounakis.
———. 2012. “Affective and Cognitive Dimensions of Religious Experience: Toward a Conceptual/Theoretical Integrative Perspective.” Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 41: 33-45; 63-67.
Lincoln, Bruce. 1999. Theorizing Myth: Narrative, Ideology, Scholarship. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
———. 2003. Holy Terrors: Thinking about Religion after September 11. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
———. 2005. “Responsa Miniscula.” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 17: 59–67.
———. 2007. “From Artaxerxes to Abu Ghraib: On Religion and the Pornography of Imperial Violence.” Religion and Web Culture Forum.
———. 2012. Gods and Demons, Priests and Scholars: Critical Explorations in the History of Religions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Martin, Luther, and Donald Wiebe. 2012. “Religious Studies as a Scientific Discipline: The Persistence of a Delusion.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 80: 1–11.
Marx, Karl. 1978a. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 66–125. New York: W.W. Norton.
———. 1978b. “For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing.” In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 12–15. New York: W.W. Norton..
———. 1978c. “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: Introduction.” In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 53–65.New York: W.W. Norton .
Penner, Hans H., and Yonan, Edward A. 1972. “Is a Science of Religion Possible?” The Journal of Religion 52: 107–133.
Saler, Benson. (forthcoming) “Concept of Religion.” In Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, edited by Robert Segal and Kocku von Stuckrad. Leiden: Brill,
Spiro, Melford E. 1966. “Religion: Problems of Definition and Explanation.” In Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Michael Banton, 85–126. London: Tavistock..
Taves, Ann. 2006. “Comments on Dubuisson’s The Western Construction of Religion.” Religion 36: 138–40.
Fitzgerald, Tim. 2006. “Bruce Lincoln’s ‘Theses on Method’: Antithesis.” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 18: 392–423.
Hewitt, Marsha Aileen. 2010. “Religion and Violence: A Psychoanalytic Inquiry.” In Chasing Down Religion: In the Sights of History and the Cognitive Sciences, edited by Panayotis Pachis and Donald Wiebe, 171-196. Thessaloniki: Barbounakis.
———. 2012. “Affective and Cognitive Dimensions of Religious Experience: Toward a Conceptual/Theoretical Integrative Perspective.” Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 41: 33-45; 63-67.
Lincoln, Bruce. 1999. Theorizing Myth: Narrative, Ideology, Scholarship. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
———. 2003. Holy Terrors: Thinking about Religion after September 11. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
———. 2005. “Responsa Miniscula.” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 17: 59–67.
———. 2007. “From Artaxerxes to Abu Ghraib: On Religion and the Pornography of Imperial Violence.” Religion and Web Culture Forum.
———. 2012. Gods and Demons, Priests and Scholars: Critical Explorations in the History of Religions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Martin, Luther, and Donald Wiebe. 2012. “Religious Studies as a Scientific Discipline: The Persistence of a Delusion.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 80: 1–11.
Marx, Karl. 1978a. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 66–125. New York: W.W. Norton.
———. 1978b. “For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing.” In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 12–15. New York: W.W. Norton..
———. 1978c. “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: Introduction.” In The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, 53–65.New York: W.W. Norton .
Penner, Hans H., and Yonan, Edward A. 1972. “Is a Science of Religion Possible?” The Journal of Religion 52: 107–133.
Saler, Benson. (forthcoming) “Concept of Religion.” In Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, edited by Robert Segal and Kocku von Stuckrad. Leiden: Brill,
Spiro, Melford E. 1966. “Religion: Problems of Definition and Explanation.” In Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religion, edited by Michael Banton, 85–126. London: Tavistock..
Taves, Ann. 2006. “Comments on Dubuisson’s The Western Construction of Religion.” Religion 36: 138–40.
Published
2013-04-03
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Hewitt, M. (2013). Ideology, Ideology-Critique, and the Critical Study of Religion in Bruce Lincoln’s Gods and Demons, Priests and Scholars: Critical Explorations in the History of Religions. Bulletin for the Study of Religion, 42(2), 2-7. https://doi.org/10.1558/bsor.v42i2.2
