Analyzing the Multi-Disciplinary Aspects of Religious Studies

This essay delves into the multi-disciplinary nature of religious studies, arguing that religion is not confined to a single discipline but draws from various fields, including philosophy, theology, science, and history. The essay highlights the connections between religion and philosophy, examining how both grapple with existential questions and the meaning of the universe. It then explores the relationship between religion and theology, discussing how theology provides interpretations of faith and how differing theologies shape societal practices. The essay also examines the interplay between religion and science, noting how both are complex cultural endeavors and how historical narratives are shaped by religious groups. Finally, the essay emphasizes the importance of comparative philosophy in understanding the big questions of religion and its role in shaping human identity and understanding of the world. The essay underscores the need for an integrated approach that draws from natural, social, and cognitive sciences to fully grasp the complexities of religious phenomena.

Running head: MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
Multi-disciplinary field of Religion
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
Religion refers to set of beliefs and dogmas that can define the relationship between
that of human being and that of divinity. Most of the religions in the world have developed
from that of revelation which is based on that of exemplary history pertaining to a nation.
Studies in relation to religion can be thought of to be a multi-disciplinary field and it
comprises aspects of different kind of studies. This essay discusses regarding the fact that
why religion can be considered to be a multi-disciplinary field and whether the statement
helps in the accurate reflection of the field.
Religion can be said to be related to the disciple of philosophy as it discusses about
the different kinds of philosophical traditions and the different kinds of intellectual ventures
that the human beings undertake. Potent questions in relation to existentiality arise in that of
the human life and it compels an individual in thinking about the meaning of the reality1.
Philosophy delves into these aspects and pursues many kinds of philosophical questions. In
the same manner, religion also delves deep into the aspects of philosophy and religion helps
in answering important questions regarding the mysteries of the universe. Religion aims at
generating interpretations in relation to all kinds of religious phenomena that spans from that
of the mundane to that of the sublime. Philosophy also aims at answering the hidden
mysteries pertaining to the universe and philosophy explains the significance of meaning and
truth. Religion can help an individual in assessing himself in a better manner and in the
similar manner philosophy helps in unravelling important answers relating to the journey of
the human being2. Both religion and philosophy play an important role in making man
optimistic and religion helps in providing religious data to that of philosophy. Religion
1 Choudhury, Masudul Alam. "Religion and social economics (a systemic theory of organic
unity)." International Journal of Social Economics 43, no. 2 (2016): 134-160
2 Freathy, Rob, Jonathan Doney, Giles Freathy, Karen Walshe, and Geoff Teece. "Pedagogical bricoleurs and
bricolage researchers: The case of Religious Education." British Journal of Educational Studies 65, no. 4
(2017): 425-443.

2MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
evolves from the teachings of a famous prophet and in the similar strain philosophy emerges
from the sayings of famous leaders. Religion helps in preaching a definite manner pertaining
to life which is on the basis of philosophy in relation to life. Both religion and philosophy can
help in making man optimistic and they show man the true path. Religion comprises of set of
beliefs in the unseen power that is God and in the similar manner philosophy consists of set
of principles.
Theology refers to the critical study of that of the divine and it mainly concerns itself
with the deity. Theology starts by assuming that divine exists in the universe in some kind of
form like that of physical or that of social realities. Theology deals with the questions that are
directed towards that of transcendence. It incorporates the doctrinal issues and it arises from
that of faith. Religion can be said to be similar to theology as it helps in the interpretation of
faith. Theology can be said to be thinking about religion from that of within the religion.
Religion comprises of a set of beliefs that can be said to be the end-result of that of
theological conclusions. The different theologies will give rise to different kinds of practices
in the society. There are different religions that the human beings abide by and each of these
religions have different kinds of practices associated with it. In the similar manner, differing
theologies pave the path for various practices within the society. Islamic theology can be
stated to be diverse as it comprises of different schools of the jurisprudential thought within
that of the Sunni tradition3. There is a thin line between that of theology and that of religious
practice. Local culture arises from that of years of traditions or from that of cultural
exchange. The traditions in due course of time are identified as a religion and theology is
conceived of to be an afterthought. The study of the religions depends on theologians and
3 Chilton, Paul, and Monika Kopytowska, eds. Religion, Language, and the Human Mind. Oxford University
Press, 2018.

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they can help in getting an accurate sense regarding what the religion teaches. Theologians
look forward to religious studies so that they can get the “social science” perspective in
relation to their faith or that of another faith. It can hence be stated that the different areas
overlap. The theologians take recourse to different kinds of analysis along with argument for
understanding, explaining and testing different kinds of religious topics. In relation to that of
philosophy of ethics the arguments assume the form of previously resolved question and
analogies are used for drawing new inferences in the case of the new situations.
Science and religion are indicative of two cultural identities within the world and he
work of famous scientists like that of Copernicus and Darwin prompts questions that has
huge implications on that of humanity. There is a deep relation between that of science and
that of religion. Both science and religion can be stated to be complex cultural endeavour that
differ across that of different cultures4. A large part of the technical innovations before that of
scientific revolution was achieved by the societies that was organized by that of religious
traditions. Elements pertaining to scientific method was pioneered by that of pagan along
with Christian scholars. It has been stated that science comprises of paradigms that rises from
that of cultural traditions. It can be stated to be similar to secular perspective in relation to
religion. The physicists have pointed out that methods pertaining to science along with
religion can be said to be based on a common pattern. Science is not only about factual
statements and the cosmologists speak in a meaningful manner regarding the existence of the
other universe. Religion also goes beyond that of values along with morals. Science can be
stated to be a cultural institution that needs a unique soil so that they can flourish. Modern
science can be stated to be child of that of European civilization on account of the
contribution of Christian faith to that of Western culture. It has been stated that Christian
world has given rise to the experimental method of that of science. Christianity perceives the
4 Vyhmeister, Nancy Jean, and Terry Dwain Robertson. Quality research papers: for students of religion and
theology. Zondervan, 2014.

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world as being divine and as the natural product of the transcendent creator who brought
religion into being. The world can be stated to be a rational space that can be explored and
discovered. The scientific enterprise is on the basis of assumptions that cannot be proved by
using the scientific method but by the guarantee of the Christian world view. The different
assumptions of science are that of law pertaining to logic and nature of that of the external
world. Science exists with the help of these assumptions and the assumptions can be proved
in the scientific method5. The philosophical assumptions can be stated to be a part of the
Christian world. Religion can be said to be important for science and it provides the
conceptual framework within which science exists. Science can be nurtured only with the
help of religion. There was a view in ancient times that sky used to rest on that of the
shoulders of Atlas. The medieval Church condemned Galileo for believing that Earth used to
move around that of the Sun. Scientific evidence was able to falsify this notion and the
Church finally admitted their mistake.
History can be said to be an important tool that helps an individual in understanding
the situation and establishing of identity. The different religious groups have acted as
producers in relation to the historical narratives. The religious groups have from time to time
made use of historical narratives so that they can construct their identities6. Many thinks of
the United States to be a Christian nation that was founded on the basis of Christian
principles. Religion plays an important role in that of the American public life and religion
acts as the cornerstone in relation to American societal life. When a culture falls prey to the
aspect of materialism then religion has played an important role in bringing the society out of
5 Neville, Robert Cummings. Religion: Philosophical Theology, Volume Three. Vol. 3. SUNY Press, 2015
6 Bidlack, Beth, Matthew C. Baker, and Nisa Bakkalbasi. "Is There Anything New under the Sun?(Ecclesiastes
1: 9): A Local Report on the Research Practices of Scholars in Religion and Theology." (2016).

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the dismal state7. The wars of history along with that of religion are intertwined and the study
of the history cannot be devoid of the aspect of religion. The religions have played an
important role in changing the face of history and thus there exists a deep relation between
that of history and that of religion.
Religious philosophy can be said to be a multidisciplinary comparative enquiry that
can rise above that of disciplinary parochialism along with covert religious bias that plagues
some of the traditional forms of religion. Religion is not simply directed towards that of the
identity interest of a religious community but it can assist in the process of gaining self-
understanding that can enable an individual in gaining deep understanding of the mysteries of
the universe.
The word inquiry means solving the problem by making use of a rational procedure
which helps in providing an answer to that of the problem. Ideal pertaining to truth seeking is
embedded within the idea of that of inquiry even when the inquiry is infallible. Truth-seeking
has become controversial in relation to contemporary western philosophy that directs the
assertions pertaining to rational truth seeking has become uncommon. There is a visible ideal
in relation to inquiry of the sciences or that of history. Philosophy pertaining to science along
with historiography have helped in disclosing the truth. Loss of confidence pertaining to
truth-seeking inquiry can be said to be the step-child of that of big-question philosophy. The
creative philosophers were sure about the constructive models and they made definitive
claims for those models 8. The quest of big-question philosophy needs large scale
interpretations that makes use of vague ideas that can help in linking the different levels and
7 Lynerd, Benjamin T. Republican theology: the civil religion of American Evangelicals. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2014
8 Beardslee, Michael D. "The Dogma of History." Religion and Theology 24, no. 3-4 (2017): 295-320

6MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
kinds of phenomena. It can be said that there is logic in relation to vagueness but it is applied
at the semantic level of the concepts as compared to that of syllogistic analysis9.
Kant’s offering pertaining to parallel arguments marks the birth of that of comparative
philosophy on behalf of that of a negative conclusion. The problem is created on account of
the fact that inquiries are concerned with that of transcendental assertions that lays claim
regarding what is beyond the field of that of possible experience. At that of the logical level,
the presentation of Kant about the antimonies helps in abstracting the arguments from the
point of view of modelling effort that can produce them. Surrendering of the foundationalist
aspiration proves to be a boon for that of big question philosophical enquiry.
Nonfoundationalist approach provides invitations to the philosopher that can help them in
exploring the philosophical territory for locating the resources that can help in correcting the
hypotheses10. All the streams of that of nonfoundationalist philosophy can help in resisting
the discussion of the metaphysics. Integrated knowledge of the natural, social along with the
cognitive sciences can change the prospect in relation to big-question philosophy. At present,
scientific picture in relation to the natural world can be said to be not seamless but a semi-
consistent patchwork of that of robust theories. Scientific view of the world has serious
weakness in handling aspects related to reality which is beyond the reach of that of physical
sciences. The scientific picture pertaining to the natural world hold great amount of promise
for that of big question philosophy.
The modern era has seen the birth of that of comparative philosophy and big-question
philosophy has adopted a cross-cultural aspect. The comparison of the answers of the big
9 Coleman, Simon, and Peter Collins, eds. Religion, identity and change: perspectives on global
transformations. Routledge, 2017
10 Desmond, William. The Intimate Universal: The Hidden Porosity Among Religion, Art, Philosophy, and
Politics. Columbia University Press, 2016.

7MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
philosophical questions can give rise to inference-to-best explanation argument11. Direct
inference approach can be exemplified with the help of cosmological argument pertaining to
existence of God. Religion deals with the aspects of philosophy and it can help in answering
questions related to mysteries of universe12. Religion can generate the interpretations in
relation to all aspects of the religious phenomena from mundane to sublime13. Theology is
aimed at that of transcendence and it incorporates issues related to that of faith. Religion and
theology are similar as both deal with interpretation in relation to faith14. There exists deep
relationship between science and religion. They are complex cultural endeavours that differ
across that of different cultures. Technical innovation was accomplished by the societies
which was organized with the help of religious traditions. History can help an individual in
establishing the identity. Different religious groups act as the producer of that of the historical
narratives. The religious groups make use of historical narratives for the construction of
identities. Religion can hence be called a multi-disciplinary field in relation to enquiry and
the statement rightly reflects the field.
11 Goodchild, Philip. Religion and European Philosophy: Key Thinkers from Kant to Žižek. Taylor & Francis,
2017
12 Jonas, Silvia. "Ineffability and its metaphysics: The unspeakable in art, religion, and philosophy." (2016).
13 Rieger, Joerg. "Rethinking the New Materialism for Religion and Theology." In Religious Experience and
New Materialism, pp. 135-156. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2016
14 Buber, Martin. Eclipse of God: Studies in the relation between religion and philosophy. Princeton University
Press, 2015.

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References:
Beardslee, Michael D. "The Dogma of History." Religion and Theology 24, no. 3-4 (2017):
295-320.
Bidlack, Beth, Matthew C. Baker, and Nisa Bakkalbasi. "Is There Anything New under the
Sun?(Ecclesiastes 1: 9): A Local Report on the Research Practices of Scholars in Religion
and Theology." (2016).
Buber, Martin. Eclipse of God: Studies in the relation between religion and philosophy.
Princeton University Press, 2015.
Chilton, Paul, and Monika Kopytowska, eds. Religion, Language, and the Human Mind.
Oxford University Press, 2018.
Choudhury, Masudul Alam. "Religion and social economics (a systemic theory of organic
unity)." International Journal of Social Economics 43, no. 2 (2016): 134-160.
Coleman, Simon, and Peter Collins, eds. Religion, identity and change: perspectives on
global transformations. Routledge, 2017.
Desmond, William. The Intimate Universal: The Hidden Porosity Among Religion, Art,
Philosophy, and Politics. Columbia University Press, 2016.
Freathy, Rob, Jonathan Doney, Giles Freathy, Karen Walshe, and Geoff Teece. "Pedagogical
bricoleurs and bricolage researchers: The case of Religious Education." British Journal of
Educational Studies 65, no. 4 (2017): 425-443.
Goodchild, Philip. Religion and European Philosophy: Key Thinkers from Kant to Žižek.
Taylor & Francis, 2017.

9MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF RELIGION
Jonas, Silvia. "Ineffability and its metaphysics: The unspeakable in art, religion, and
philosophy." (2016).
Lynerd, Benjamin T. Republican theology: the civil religion of American Evangelicals. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Neville, Robert Cummings. Religion: Philosophical Theology, Volume Three. Vol. 3. SUNY
Press, 2015.
Rieger, Joerg. "Rethinking the New Materialism for Religion and Theology." In Religious
Experience and New Materialism, pp. 135-156. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2016.
Vyhmeister, Nancy Jean, and Terry Dwain Robertson. Quality research papers: for students
of religion and theology. Zondervan, 2014.