In praise of religious reflexivity: reflections from fieldwork

Abstract

This article aims to enrich the methodological discourse on the practice of reflexivity, by presenting the concepts of religious reflexivity and theological reductionism as analytical devices with which to explore the relationship of researchers with their human research subjects. It illustrates reflexive engagement with interpersonal religious aspects from the fieldwork on an evangelical pilgrimage to Israel. Based on examples from the fieldwork, the article explores the epistemological importance and limitations of deciphering and presenting the researchers' role in their subjects' theological worldview.

The shared oasis: An insider ethnographic account of a gay resort

“…Critical and reflexive approaches towards tourism research have encompassed a wide range of issues pertaining to the collaborative roles between the researcher and the researched. For example, emotion (see Pocock, 2015), religion's bearing on epistemology (see Belhassen, 2012) and nature and relationality (see Grimwood, 2011). However, it is unclear and curious, although acknowledged in text, as to how, why and to what degree the rapport-building process has potentially had impact on such research.…”