Pizhuhish nāmah-i intiqādī-i mutūn va barnāmah hā-yi ̒ulūm-i insāni (Critical Studies in Texts & Programs of Human Sciences)

Keywords: Religion, Mysticism, Phenomenology, Ideology, Modern Religious Thought, Wasserstrom

Document Type : Research

Author

Mohammadreza Salehi Vasigh

* PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30465/crtls.2025.49993.2867
Abstract
The present article offers a critical review of Wasserstrom's book "Religion After Religion", examining its main themes, methodological approaches, and scholarly impacts. The primary objective of this article was to assess how Wasserstrom portrays the contributions of Scholem, Eliade, and Corbin to modern religious thought, particularly their shared focus on mysticism, symbolism, and the phenomenological study of religion. Utilizing text-based content analysis of the book, this research examined Wasserstrom's use of the concept "Religion After Religion" and his critical engagement with the scholars' ideological commitments and methodological choices. The findings highlighted significant strengths, such as Wasserstrom's comprehensive historical context and interdisciplinary approach, but also raised notable criticisms. These include ambiguity in defining "Religion After Religion," which blurs the boundaries between personal spirituality, academic inquiry, and ideological commitments, raising questions about the concept's coherence as an analytical category. Additionally, the overemphasis on mysticism often overshadows critical historical analysis, particularly in Scholem's works, and an insufficient critique of the ethical dimensions of the scholars' political ideologies limits the depth of Wasserstrom's analysis. This review emphasizes the need for a more balanced and precise engagement with the complex interplay between mysticism, history, and politics in modern religious studies.

Keywords

Religion
Mysticism
Phenomenology
Ideology
Modern Religious Thought
Wasserstrom

Subjects

 
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  • Receive Date 13 January 2025
  • Revise Date 06 April 2025
  • Accept Date 23 April 2025

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