The study of religion at the 'multi-versity': probing problems and possibilities

Conditions constituting the university are in the process of changing. It is argued that an objectivistic philosophy of meaning constituted the modern university, whereas an interactional philosophy of meaning constitutes the 'multi-versity'. The terminology that determines the study of re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neotestamentica 1998-12, Vol.32 (1), p.203-240
Main Author: Vorster, J N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bible
Biblical studies
Christianity
Contemporary period
Epistemology
General subjects
History and sciences of religions
Humans
Interactional epistemology
Miscellanea
Multi-versity
Postmodern philosophy
Religion
Terminology
Tertiary education
Theology
Theory of knowledge
Uniqueness
Universities
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Summary:Conditions constituting the university are in the process of changing. It is argued that an objectivistic philosophy of meaning constituted the modern university, whereas an interactional philosophy of meaning constitutes the 'multi-versity'. The terminology that determines the study of religion has been received from an objectivistic tradition. This poses several problems for the study of religion within the 'multi-versity', where an interactional epistemology functions in the production of knowledge. Some of these problems are identified, such as the clash between competing terminologies, the notion of uniqueness, religious and biblical values, comparison and pluralism and the surrender to techno-economic rationality. From the perspective of the rhetoric of enquiry it is argued that if the rhetoricity of religious discourses is taken into consideration, various possibilities can be pursued within the 'multi-versity'.
ISSN:0254-8356
0254-8356