academic study of religion during the Cold War, The
Book Description
This scholarly examination reveals how political tensions shaped the way religion was studied and understood during one of history's most ideologically charged periods. Between 1945 and 1989, researchers on both sides of the Iron Curtain faced unique challenges in their pursuit of religious knowledge, with Soviet scholars navigating official atheist doctrine while Western academics worked to establish new frameworks for religious studies.
Drawing from the perspectives of twenty-one international scholars across North America, Europe, Russia, and Eastern Europe, this collection illuminates the complex interplay between politics, ideology, and academic inquiry. The contributors explore how Cold War tensions influenced methodologies, research priorities, and theoretical approaches within religious studies departments and institutions.
At its core, this work addresses a fundamental question that remains relevant today: how can the academic study of religion maintain scholarly integrity while avoiding the pitfalls of both rigid ideological constraints and narrow theological perspectives? The authors examine various attempts to develop balanced approaches that honor both rigorous academic standards and the genuine complexity of religious phenomena.
For readers interested in understanding how historical context shapes spiritual and religious discourse, this volume offers valuable insights into the evolution of religious studies as an academic discipline. It demonstrates how scholars have worked to create space for authentic inquiry about faith, spirituality, and religious experience, even within politically charged environments.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 336 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religionswissenschaftliches Studium
- ✓ Explore Kongress
- ✓ Explore Godsdienstwetenschap
- ✓ Explore Religion, study and teaching
- ✓ Explore Religions, history
- ✓ Explore Ost-West-Konflikt
- ✓ Explore Koude Oorlog
- ✓ Explore Religions
