Innovation in the study of religion and religions

Abstract

The aim of this inaugural lecture is to reflect on the notion of 'innovation' in the Human and Social Sciences in general and the comparative study of religion and religions in particular. ‘Religion' here refers to the generic category (genus) and 'religions' to the species of the genus.

The lecture thus addresses the fundamental question not only of the meaning of 'innovation', but also of ways in which we may produce new knowledge in a field that studies human beings and religion as a powerful force in our world.

The thesis is that our best hope for producing innovative insights in the humanities and religious studies lies in experimenting with the application of theorized key concepts to specific case studies by way of comparison. It is argued that the construct and use of cross-cultural key concepts need to be done with a critical awareness of the genealogy of the concepts, and that the comparison of case studies must be done in a disciplined and systematic way that locates each example within its specific historical and geographic context.

The argument proceeds by means of my intellectual journey through the academic disciplines of ancient Greek linguistics, New Testament Studies, Greco-Roman Classics and comparative Religious Studies and a selection of examples from these disciplines to illustrate the thesis. The contribution to the production of innovative knowledge in Religious Studies from a South African perspective and location is emphasized in the lecture.

The following case studies under each phase of my intellectual journey are discussed to illustrate the thesis, with due recognition of prominent scholars who have influenced my thinking on innovative research in the humanities and religious studies:

(1) Ancient Greek linguistics: Discourse analysis, semantic domains, translation theory and practice (JP Louw and E Nida)

(2) New Testament Studies: narratological analysis of the gospels, poststructuralist and social-anthropological study of the historical Jesus and Paul (A van Aarde and JD Crossan)

(3) Greco-Roman Classics: social-anthropological analyses and critiques of ancient Greek and early Christian myths as social constructs (Paris School and B Mack)

(4) Religious Studies: theorizing key concepts in Religious Studies, such as religion, comparison, religious nationalism, indigeneity, materiality and sacred space from a South African historical perspective (ie within colonial and post-colonial, apartheid and post-apartheid, contexts) and considering their ethical import (JZ Smith and D Chidester)