Phenomenology of Religion in Jouco Bleeker's View and criticism of its basics

Subject Areas : Epistemological researches

Mojtaba Zurvani ¹ , Milad Azami Maram ^{2 *}

1 - Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran
2 - Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran

Received: 2018-09-24 Accepted : 2019-05-19 Published : 2019-05-22

Keywords: logos, epoché, eidetic vision, theōria, entelecheia,

Abstract :

The Phenomenology of Religion was introduced as an academic discipline since the early twentieth century. Therefore, it is a new discipline, and researchers are disagree about its exact meaning. According to Bleeker, the phenomenology of religion is used in three ways: 1) the regulation and systematization of religious phenomena. 2) Typology of different types of religions. 3) Research in the structures and meanings of religious phenomena. In his opinion, the third meaning more accurately reveals the phenomenological nature of religion. Also, it is necessary to distinguish between the phenomenology of religion as a method and phenomenology of religion as an independent discipline. Phenomenology as a method is based on two principles of epoché and the eidetic vision, and is applicable in other disciplines. Phenomenology as an independent science pursuing a triple purpose: 1) Theōria, which shows the religious implications of various phenomena. 2) Logos, which reveals the internal logic of religious beliefs and practices. 3) Entelecheia, which explains how religions change in a certain direction. Contrary to the views of phenomenologists of religion, including Bleeker, their approach is faced with serious challenges and doubts, and their consolidation requires critical rethinking.

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