ISSN:
0143-8301
Language:
English
Titel der Quelle:
Culture and religion : an interdisciplinary journal
Publ. der Quelle:
Abingdon : Taylor & Francis
Angaben zur Quelle:
Vol. 18, No. 1 (2017), p. 8
DDC:
290
Abstract:
An initial apology to religious insiders in the opening of Hughes' book got this review - of the book and of tensions in public and academic discourse about Islam and the study thereof - started. The book, after the strange initial apology, becomes a highly valuable introduction to a study-of-religion approach to Islam, incorporating both insider and outsider perspectives, including primary sources and critical analyses, and describing the multitude of 'Muslim identities' and responses to so-called modernity. Desiderata: a more classical comparative approach to ritual and more nuance around its discussion of women and jihad. Returning to 'apologetics', the review renders a recent Danish debate suggesting scholars of Islam should investigate and expose Islam rather than provide a nuanced and qualified picture in accordance with empirical scientific principles. An example of public ignorance over the role of the scholar of religion, - and yet another example of the necessity of approaching Islam as any other religion, i.e. from a comparative, historical and critical-analytical point of view. Though the book (rightly) suggests that the academic study of religions is more novelty than norm, the reviewer sees no reason, whatsoever, for apologizing for study-of-religion principles and approaches to religion, Islam included.
Note:
Copyright: © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group 2017
DOI:
10.1080/14755610.2017.1301974
URL:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14755610.2017.1301974
URL:
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1889370268
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