Disappearing Categories: Using Categories in the Study of Religion

Satlow, Michael L.

doi:10.1163/157006805774550947

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…I am inclined to the view of Michael Satlow that categories themselves do not tell us anything ‘real’ about religious activity. Rather, they are ‘definitions we create in order to select data to compare’ (Satlow 2005: 293). When formulating such definitions, ‘we need not reinvent the wheel’ but typically draw on both native categories and the history of scholarly reflection upon these categories (Satlow 2005: 294–95).…”

Section: Critical Dialogue (Hewitt and Sharp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rather, they are ‘definitions we create in order to select data to compare’ (Satlow 2005: 293). When formulating such definitions, ‘we need not reinvent the wheel’ but typically draw on both native categories and the history of scholarly reflection upon these categories (Satlow 2005: 294–95). First, in terms of the native category of divination, I rather think that avoiding the term altogether only serves to reify its definition in the ancient world as ‘something ancient Jews did not do’.…”

Section: Critical Dialogue (Hewitt and Sharp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Finding Out the Things of God: A Dialogue on Matthew Sharp’s Divination and Philosophy in the Letters of Paul and New Testament Studies

Hewitt,

Sharp

2024

Journal for the Study of the New Testament

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Section: Critical Dialogue (Hewitt and Sharp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Critical Dialogue (Hewitt and Sharp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Finding Out the Things of God: A Dialogue on Matthew Sharp’s Divination and Philosophy in the Letters of Paul and New Testament Studies

Hewitt,

Sharp

2024

Journal for the Study of the New Testament

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“…117 Toto zpětné upřesnění kategorie vede nejen k její větší užitečnosti, ale také k zobecnitelné hypotéze o povaze určitých sfér lidské činnosti. 118 Znamená to, že na základě náhodně vybraných příkladů/dokladů se vymezuje, jaký/co rituál doopravdy je, resp. jakou funkci má.…”

Section: B Status Kategorií Druhého řáDuunclassified

Gnóze a Janovské Křesťanství Jako Analytické Kategorie Aneb „podle Plodů Jejich Poznáte Je“

Vytlačilová,

Gebelt

2022

Theologická Revue

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We propose a conception of social scientific categories based on a critical reflection and discussion of two categories used in the study of early Christianity and the religion of late antiquity: Gnosticism and Johannine Christianity. We evaluate three recent theoretical discussions regarding the category of Gnosticism: the issue of the analytical inaccuracy of the category (M. A. Williams), deriving and using of categories that are based on the self-designation of the analysed subject (B. Layton, D. Brakke) and finally the negative connotations of the category (K. L. King). Since there is minimal theoretical (meta)reflection on the category of Johannine Christianity in Johannine research, we critically define the problems of prevailing unreflected consensus (e.g. R. E. Brown or R. Hakola). Each sub-point generates questions of a general nature, which we address in the next part of the text. We present the answers in the following structure: first, we deal with how we create categories; then, with their status; and finally, we focus on how we work with categories and according to what criteria we evaluate them. We summarised the results as follows: Adequate legitimate analytical categories are those that are of the second order, i.e. they are not primarily based on self-labelling / self-understanding, they are not understood as true or false representations of reality, but as utilitarian schemes to understand a fact, and they are appropriately defined and justified. Concerning the fragmentary nature and number of preserved sources used in the study of early Christianity, such a concept has several advantages. Ad 1) The categories of the analysis are separated from the potentially normative first order categories. Ad 2) Although we strive for the most adequate knowledge/grasp of the researched facts, we are aware that the data we work with do not have any independent existence, but their form depends on what conceptual tools we use. Ad 3) The interpretation of a specific material without a proper and reflected definition of the category easily results in ideological distortion. E.g. the category Johannine Christianity distorts the sources (in our case, John's corpus) and distorts the broader interpreted context (early Christianity). Therefore, not correctly defining the researcher's category to analyse a group of texts can have farreaching consequences for interpreting other texts.

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“…Moreover, many such explanations of the ancient data are simply ill-fitting, and we have better, more descriptive, illuminating ways to talk about ancient conceptions and discourse. Of course, a scholarly term or category that is anachronistic in terms of etymology but otherwise illuminates the data maintains utility when we are explicit about primary (emic) and secondary (etic) categorizations, regarding their respective instrumentality and limits (Satlow, 2005). However, if the term and category are secondary and ill-fitting, then we can do better to describe and attempt to explain phenomena within the ancient conceptual milieu.…”

Section: Considerations For the Concept's Utility Within Scholarly Explanations Of Biblical Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“Monotheism” and the Hebrew Bible

Ballentine

2021

Religion Compass

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Disappearing Categories: Using Categories in the Study of Religion

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Finding Out the Things of God: A Dialogue on Matthew Sharp’s Divination and Philosophy in the Letters of Paul and New Testament Studies

Finding Out the Things of God: A Dialogue on Matthew Sharp’s Divination and Philosophy in the Letters of Paul and New Testament Studies

Gnóze a Janovské Křesťanství Jako Analytické Kategorie Aneb „podle Plodů Jejich Poznáte Je“

“Monotheism” and the Hebrew Bible

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