Learning from the Past

Abstract

Abstract The Legacy, Life and Work of Geo Widengren and the Study of the History of Religions after World War II, editor Göran Larsson, illuminates the scholarly career of Geo Widengren and the development of the Study of Religion. We can learn from his example to pursue historical and comparative studies, develop philological competence, and create bold theories. However, Widengren’s philological approach sometimes led to what can be labelled the philological fallacy, too much faith in the importance of mastery of languages at the cost of more critical and self-critical views. Philological and historical skills should be supplemented with theoretical awareness and an adequate methodology. In The Legacy we learn about how academic culture was built in the last century, how it operated, and we also understand why it was altered. It had in addition been interesting to hear more about female scholars in Widengren’s milieu.