In Search of Rules for a Critical Study of Religion

Abstract

Abstract This article builds on critical engagements with a 2022 essay that appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion. At the centre of this essay was a concern with the influence of ‘Critical Religion’ (CR) on the academic study of religion, including the idea that CR is crypto-normative, inconsistent when applying its critiques, is overly deconstructive, and is unable to address ethical claims. Taking issue with some of the arguments in this essay, this article aims to push the conversation in a different direction by asking, are their rules for a critical study of religion? If so, then what do various ‘critical’ camps share in common? Where do they differ, and what kind of work is being done to move beyond some of these impasses today?