Religion enters the academy

Book Description

James Turner unveils the fascinating origins of religious studies as an academic discipline in American universities, revealing a story that differs dramatically from its European counterparts. While European scholars built upon centuries of established philological traditions, American religious studies emerged from an entirely different source: the broader cultural landscape outside traditional academic walls.

Turner demonstrates how American interest in world religions developed relatively late, with little attention paid to non-European spiritual traditions until the early nineteenth century. This shift arose from growing questions about Christianity's place in the world, prompting American thinkers to engage in comparative religious analysis for the first time.

The discipline that emerged was largely shaped by Protestant ministers who approached other world religions through their sacred texts, focusing particularly on the foundational scriptures of major spiritual traditions. This text-centered methodology created a distinctive American approach to understanding diverse religious experiences.

Turner's exploration culminates with William James's revolutionary challenge to this academic framework. James's influential work "Varieties of Religious Experience" represented a pivotal moment that questioned the narrow textual focus, advocating instead for a broader understanding of how religion manifests in human experience.

For readers interested in how spiritual inquiry evolved within American intellectual life, Turner offers valuable insights into the academic study of religion's unique development in the United States, tracing its transformation from cultural curiosity to scholarly discipline.