Religious discourse, social cohesion and conflict : studying Muslim-Christian relations / Frans Wijsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wijsen, Frans Jozef Servaas, 1956-

Series:

Religions and discourse ; v. 55.

Religions and discourse ; v. 55

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islam--Relations--Christianity.

Islam.

Relations.

Christianity.

Christianity and other religions--Islam.

Christianity and other religions.

Christianity and other religions--Tanzania.

Christianity and other religions--Indonesia.

Indonesia.

Tanzania.

Physical Description:

ix, 218 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, [2013]

Summary:

This book analyses religious identity transformations through inter-religious relations. It aims to highlight the link between religious discourse and social cohesion, or the lack of such a link, and ultimately seeks to contribute to the dominant discourse on Muslim-Christian relations. The book is based on fieldwork in Indonesia and Tanzania, and is timely because of the growing tensions between Muslims and Christians in both countries. Its relevance lies in its fresh look at theories of religion and science. From its establishment as an academic discipline, the phenomenology of religion has dominated religious studies. Its theory of religion is 'realist' (religion is a reality 'in itself') and its view of science is objectivist (scientific knowledge is true if its representation of reality corresponds with reality itself). Based on Discourse Theory, the author argues that religion does not exist 'in itself'. Human practices and artifacts become religious because they are placed in a narrative context by the believers. By using discourse analysis as a research method, the author shows how religious identities in Tanzania and Indonesia are constructed, negotiated and manipulated in order to gain material or symbolic profit. Book jacket.

Contents:

From comparison to conversation

Outline of an emerging field of study

Controversial issues

Conceptual and technical design

Interreligious relations in the post-cold war era

Global resurgence of religion

Growing conflicts between religions

The study of interreligious relations thus far

Conclusion

Interreligious studies as an interdisciplinary field

Theology and religious studies

The analogy model of interreligious relations

From religious to interreligious studies

A narrative theory of interreligious relations

From phenomenon to narrative

Postcolonialism and religious studies

The understanding of religion today

Discourse analysis in interreligious studies

The theory underlying sociocognitive discourse analysis

Methods of sociocognitive discourse analysis

Application to interreligious studies

Muslim-Christian relations in Tanzania

Analysis of linguistic practice

Analysis of discursive practice

Analysis of social practice

Muslim-Christian relations in Indonesia

Context, comparison and conversation

Context and comparison

Translatability of religious concepts

From comparison to conversation

Religious identity transformation in interaction

Identity

Interaction

Transformation

Religious language, social conflict and cohesion

Religious language

Social conflict

Social cohesion

A conversational theory of interreligious relations

'Creolization' as a root metaphor

Towards an interreligious theology

Practical science of religion

Epilogue

Religion in the public square

Muslim-Christian relations

Religious identity transformation

Theory and method of interreligious studies

Bibliography

Abbreviations

Glossary

Index of subjects

Index of names

About the author.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [195]-206) and index.

ISBN:

3034309449

9783034309448

OCLC:

851034724

Publisher Number:

99955062027