Book Forum

A Discussion of James L. Cox’s A Phenomenology of Indigenous Religions

Authors

  • James L Cox Western Sydney University/University of Edinburgh
  • Steven J Sutcliffe University of Edinburgh
  • Suzanne Owen Leeds Trinity University
  • Bjørn Ola Tafjord University of Bergen
  • Bettina E Schmidt University of Wales Trinity Saint David

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/irt.25296

Keywords:

Sympathetic interpolation, definitions, typologies, contextual, memory, sacred, Indigenous, agency, relationality, Religious Studies, World Religions, Paradigm, Phenomenology, Methodologies, Reflexivity

Abstract

On 12 October 2022, a seminar was held in the University of Edinburgh to review, discuss and critique James L. Cox’s book, A Phenomenology of Indigenous Religions: Theory and Practice (2022, Bloomsbury). This article contains revised papers from that event as prepared by the speakers, including Cox’s introduction and response to the presentations. The papers explore various themes, comprising a consideration of Religious Studies as a discipline, Indigenous Religions and the World Religions Paradigm, issues surrounding the formulation of research questions, the role of a researcher in relation to those being researched, the notion of the ‘sacred’ in the study of Indigenous Religions, and questions about who can be classified as a phenomenologist of religion. Cox responds to each of these issues by emphasizing local agency among Indigenous groups as the key concept undergirding what he calls ‘relational research’. The participants’ papers, which have been revised for publication in this article, are presented in the order they were delivered at the seminar.

 

Author Biographies

  • James L Cox, Western Sydney University/University of Edinburgh

    Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, University of Edinburgh and Adjunct Professor in the School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University.

  • Steven J Sutcliffe, University of Edinburgh

    Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh.

  • Suzanne Owen, Leeds Trinity University

    Reader in Religious Studies, School of Children, Young People and Families, Leeds Trinity University.

  • Bjørn Ola Tafjord, University of Bergen

    Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology, History, Culture and Religion, University of Bergen.

  • Bettina E Schmidt, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

     Professor in the Study of Religions and the Anthropology of Religion,  University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

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Published

2023-08-04

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Discussion

How to Cite

Cox, J. L., Sutcliffe, S. J., Owen, S., Tafjord, B. O., & Schmidt, B. E. (2023). Book Forum: A Discussion of James L. Cox’s A Phenomenology of Indigenous Religions. Indigenous Religious Traditions, 1(1), 90-127. https://doi.org/10.1558/irt.25296