Which distinctions characterize the global discourse of religion? Adrian Hermann proposes a twofold change of perspective in the debate about the eurocentrism of the concept of 'religion' and the possible identification of its non-Western equivalents. He argues that the search for such equivalents should be replaced by an analysis of the emergence of hypothetical equivalences in historical processes of translation. On the basis of a distinction between theory-of-religion and discourse-theoretical approaches, Hermann describes 'religion' not as a phenomenon, but as a global discourse. 'Plurality' and 'differentiation' are identified as two central distinctions of religion. In light of this perspective, he investigates discourses of 'religion' in the context of Buddhist modernism, especially in 19th century Thailand. Drawing on Niklas Luhmann's world society theory, Hermann concludes the study by discussing the challenges of developing a theory of modernity in Religious Studies and the possibility of writing a 'global history of religion'.

Hersteller:
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
ute.schnueckel@brill.com
Theaterstraße 13
DE 37073 Göttingen

Adrian Hermann, Ph.D., is Junior Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Hamburg.

Adrian Hermann schlägt in der Debatte um außereuropäische Äquivalente des Religionsbegriffs einen Perspektivenwechsel vor, hin zu einer Genealogie der Charakteristika des globalen Religionsdiskurses.

Welche Unterscheidungen charakterisieren den globalen Diskurs um Religion?Adrian Hermann schlägt mit seiner Studie in der Debatte um außereuropäische Äquivalente des Religionsbegriffs einen Perspektivenwechsel vor, hin zu einer Genealogie der Charakteristika des globalen Religionsdiskurses. Er entfaltet diese theoretischen Überlegungen in Auseinandersetzung mit Religionsdiskursen des buddhistischen Modernismus, insbesondere im Thailand des 19. Jahrhunderts. Dabei benennt Hermann zwei charakteristische ‚Unterscheidungen der Religion‘ und identifiziert abschließend Anforderungen an eine globale Religionsgeschichte in kulturwissenschaftlicher Perspektive.

Which distinctions characterize the global discourse of religion? Adrian Hermann proposes a twofold change of perspective in the debate about the eurocentrism of the concept of 'religion' and the possible identification of its non-Western equivalents. He argues that the search for such equivalents should be replaced by an analysis of the emergence of hypothetical equivalences in historical processes of translation. On the basis of a distinction between theory-of-religion and discourse-theoretical approaches, Hermann describes 'religion' not as a phenomenon, but as a global discourse. 'Plurality' and 'differentiation' are identified as two central distinctions of religion. In light of this perspective, he investigates discourses of 'religion' in the context of Buddhist modernism, especially in 19th century Thailand. Drawing on Niklas Luhmann's world society theory, Hermann concludes the study by discussing the challenges of developing a theory of modernity in Religious Studies and the possibility of writing a 'global history of religion'.>