"Comparative religion is the branch of the study of religions with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices, themes and impacts (including migration) of the world's religions."
Comparison between different religious theories to understand how they perceive religion.
The definition of religion: This topic explores different definitions of religion and why these definitions matter in studying comparative religion.
Theories of religion: This topic examines various theories of religion, such as functionalism, structuralism, and phenomenology.
The role of history and culture: This topic explores how the historical and cultural context of a religion shapes its belief system and practices.
Comparative methodology: This topic examines the methods used to compare religions, such as historical, textual, and ethnographic approaches.
Major world religions: This topic provides an overview of the major world religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.
Religious traditions and practices: This topic explores the various rituals, practices, and beliefs of different religions.
Myth and symbolism: This topic examines how religious myths and symbols are used to convey meaning and values.
Gender and religion: This topic explores the ways in which gender intersects with religion and how gender roles are constructed within different religions.
Ecological approaches: This topic examines how religious beliefs and practices are related to ecological sustainability and environmentalism.
Secularism and modernity: This topic explores the ways in which religions intersect with secularism and modernity, including questions of religious tolerance, pluralism, and secularization.
Comparative ethics: This topic examines the moral values and ethical systems of different religions and how they differ or overlap with one another.
Cognitive science and religion: This topic explores the cognitive processes involved in religious beliefs and practices.
Theology and philosophy: This topic examines the theological and philosophical questions that arise within different religions, such as the nature of God, the afterlife, and human nature.
Religion and politics: This topic explores the intersection of religion and politics, including questions of religious freedom, human rights, and religious violence.
New religious movements: This topic examines the emergence of new religious movements and their relationship to established religions.
Phenomenology: This approach involves the study of religious phenomena and beliefs in their relational context. This approach seeks to understand how religion operates in individuals and communities.
Historical: This theoretical framework emphasizes the development of religious beliefs and practices in its historical context. It involves the interpretation of texts and traditions, including the historical evolution of religious beliefs.
Anthropological: This approach views religion in terms of the social and cultural context in which it occurs. Anthropological approaches examine the practices, values, and rituals associated with religious beliefs, including the symbolic and practical dimensions of religion.
Psychological: This approach focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of religious beliefs and the human experience of religion. It examines the personal experiences and psychological motivations associated with religious beliefs.
Feminist: This approach examines religion from a feminist perspective, examining the ways in which gender, sexuality, and power intersect with religion. It critiques religious structures that perpetuate male dominance and exclusion.
Marxist: This theoretical framework examines religion in the context of economic and social systems, considering how religious beliefs have been used to reinforce societal inequalities and injustices.
Postmodern: This approach views religion as one of many different competing narratives and discourses in society. It emphasizes the subjective and fluid nature of religious beliefs and practices, and seeks to deconstruct dominant narratives in religions and its effects on social institutions.
"This study yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion such as ethics, metaphysics, and the nature and forms of salvation."
"It also considers and compares the origins and similarities shared between the various religions of the world."
"Studying such material facilitates a broadened and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous, spiritual, and divine."
"A common geographical classification distinguishes groups such as Middle Eastern religions (including Iranian religions), Indian religions, East Asian religions, African religions, American religions, Oceanic religions, and classical Hellenistic religions."
"There also exist various sociological classifications of religious movements."
"[The study aims to gain a] more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous, spiritual, and divine."
"The study of comparative religion yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion such as ethics."
"Comparative religion includes the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices, themes and impacts (including migration) of the world's religions."
"Comparative religion yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion such as... the nature and forms of salvation."
"It considers and compares the origins and similarities shared between the various religions of the world."
"Studying such material facilitates a broadened and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous, spiritual, and divine."
"Middle Eastern religions (including Iranian religions)..."
"East Asian religions..."
"Yes, it includes African religions."
"Yes, it includes American religions."
"Classical Hellenistic religions..."
"[It studies] the impacts (including migration) of the world's religions."
"Studying such material facilitates a broadened and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices regarding the sacred, numinous, spiritual, and divine."
"The study of comparative religion yields a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion such as... metaphysics."