Introduction

Abstract

The essay is a theoretical manifesto that sets out the framework for the kind of discourses that are particularly promoted in the journal. The influence of contexts of social, cultural, and political changes in society on the formation of disciplines is highlighted, particularly with regard to South Africa and current debates on the decolonialisation of science and knowledge regimes. It is argued that what is at issue here is the juxtaposition of two discourses, the discourses of the study of religion and that of theology. Theorising this juxtaposition is a way to move beyond the insider–outsider perspective on the study of religion and theology. This paves the path to a metatheoretical and transdisciplinary stance that understands the study of religion and theology as a subset of a larger project, namely the general study of discourse production. This approach situates such studies squarely within humanistic studies, the study of how humans imaginatively create their world to live in.

In defence of exploratory research: A reply to critics

“…This framing represents black (South African) students as marginalised (and even humiliated) by unsafe academic spaces dominated by white professors teaching colonial subjects of little relevance to them. [41][42][43][44][45] My Commentary may have offended in part because it seems to be paying insufficient attention to the institutional context within which students make choices.…”

“…Fallism on university campuses globally is linked to a critique of universities as colonial and as characterised by 'white' or European/Western knowledge and practices that are seen as marginalising and even devaluing black lives, leading to feelings of abjection and rage. [41][42][43][44][45] It was a mistake for me to have tapped into this by using this particular short-hand term. That said, however, this does not invalidate the use of the questions, or the construction of the index as a summary indicator.…”