Summary Of Donald Wiebe's Article Why The Academic Study Of Religion

TESSA MILKS - 100875922 - RELI 1730 - WHY STUDY RELIGION ACADEMICALLY?

In the article Donald Wiebe’s article “‘Why the Academic Study of Religion?’ Motive and Method in the Study of Religion” he argues that the study of religion must be something you are called to do. Studying religion academically has to be a “critical study of human cultural phenomenon, not a quest for ultimate meaning or truth,” one cannot be searching solely for the true meaning. Wiebe compares the scientific study of religion to a “scientific naturalist with a concern 'to collect', describe and classify the phenomena observed” (409). By this he means that students of religion are not meant to define or explain religion but instead they are to describe and learn about them. He argues that religions cannot be scientifically explained and that faith is an essential part of all religions, therefore it cannot be studied without bias. Through out this article Wiebe
attempts to answer why people study religion academically.
Students of religion can come from all sorts of backgrounds, from Evangelical Christians to Atheists.
It is not important what you believe but instead that you keep those beliefs out of your research. That is to say, do not let your judgements colour your perceptions. A student of religion must not be solely focused on finding absolute truth but instead be looking to understand the marvel of religion. While many students of religion begin their studies in order to find the final truth it cannot cloud their research. They must be open to all the possibilities and truths, not just the final one. The academic study of religion cannot simply be a sheet of observations, it must be scientific. There are rituals and practices to study, as well as holy books and ceremonies and countless other aspects to every religion. Just like many sciences, the study of religion is the study of “important public facts” (207). It is important that it is done with serious intent and interest in learning about religion without attempting to put a label on
it.
Wiebe states that the academic study of religion “is the search for 'objective' knowledge gained - free of presuppositions - for its own sake alone” (412). He also says that studying religion is a vocation. An academic student of religion is someone who feels called to it, someone with a keen interest in observing one of societies biggest phenomena. Wiebe compares the calling religion students feel to “the inward calling for science” (406) that Max Weber has spoken of.
Wiebe believes that to study religion effectively one must understand that the very essence of religion is faith and therefore it cannot be understood scientifically, because of this there will always be a bias when studying religion. He argues that since faith is very core of religion, academic students are missing a vital part that believers and followers of the religion have. The bias comes from those who study religion leaning more towards a scientific explanation for religious happenings and believers leaning heavily toward a higher power to explain everything. Realize how essential faith is religions, and therefore the study of them, is an important thing for a student of religion to do. Being aware of the importance of faith may lessen the bias some.
In order to understand our fellow human beings it is necessary for us to study all aspects of human life, which includes religion. Why do we study religion academically? Quite simply it is the only successful way to study religion. Wiebe makes it very clear that the academic study of religion is comparable to studying science, in order to fully appreciate the world around us we must be familiar with it.