From the History of Religions to the Study of Religion in Denmark: An Essay on the Subject, Organizational History and Research Themes

Tim Jensen, Armin W. Geertz

    Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

    Abstract

    The history of the academic study of religion in Denmark resembles
    developments in other Nordic and European countries as it has moved
    from a primarily historical-philological and comparative ‘history of
    religions’ towards a broader ‘study of religion(s)’ that includes history
    of religions together with theories and methods from a wide
    variety of the human, social and today also natural sciences. Uppsala
    University was one of the three main centers of positivism at the end
    of the 19th century, and its influence was evident and long-lasting
    also in Denmark. By the end of the 1970s, debates and reflections on
    methods and theories slowly began to have a greater impact, and from
    the mid-80s and especially mid-90s, also due to conscious efforts not
    least in Aarhus, methodological issues gained in importance. A turn
    towards contemporary religion also became evident. Today it may be
    claimed that a kind of balance has been achieved whereby historical
    and empirical studies of religions go hand in hand with theoretical
    and methodological reflections, and where a balance between, on the
    one hand, more classical comparative history of religions materials
    and approaches, and, on the other hand, new and different areas of
    research, and new and different approaches and theories are of equal
    importance. With regard to individual research, research programs,
    and study programs, the history of the history of religions in Denmark
    cannot be described in detail here. This article presents the broad picture
    of important developments within and across the three Danish
    universities that have study of religion departments. Although the
    early histories are briefly touched upon, the focus will be on the past
    50 years, from about 1960 until 2014, thus roughly the same period
    that Temenos has been in existence.
    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftTemenos
    Vol/bind50
    Udgave nummer1
    Sider (fra-til)79-113
    ISSN0497-1817
    StatusUdgivet - jul. 2014

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