An Analysis of Bruce Lincolns Theses on Method for the Study of Religion

This article analyses Bruce Lincolns Theses on Method for the study of religion. Since Lincoln published Theses onMethod twenty years ago, it has a great influence on many who seek a new method and theory for studying religion, especially on those who pursue the critical study of religion. As Lincoln is one of the leading scholars in the critical study of religion, an analysis of his theses elucidates some traits of this critical trend. For this, preparatorily, I look into the background why Lincoln wrote those theses. And then I examine three topics abstracted from several of those theses: First, the problem of academic nomenclature of the study of religion. I examine why Lincoln questions the previous usages of the term history of religions; Second, the problem of defining religion. I examine how Lincolns definition of religion differs from other classical definitions; Third, the problem of cultural relativism. I examine what does Lincolns criticism on some limitations of cultural relativism intends. Through these works, I suggest the necessity of adopting some motivations and aims of the critical study of religion into the academic context of the study of religion in Korea.이 논문은 한신대학교 학술연구비 지원에 의하여 연구되었