Religious engineering: exploring projects of transformation from a relational perspective

This introduction presents the concept of religious engineering, offering a new perspective on a field of research which deals with the interrelations of religion and international development. The concept, we propose, allows for an analysis of a wide array of projects of transformation without pres...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Religion
Authors: Spies, Eva 1971- (Author) ; Schrode, Paula (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge 2021
In: Religion
Year: 2021, Volume: 51, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-18
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Development research / Religion
RelBib Classification:AA Study of religion
AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
ZB Sociology
Further subjects:B Secularity
B Transformation
B Religion
B Development
B Relationality
B Religious engineering
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This introduction presents the concept of religious engineering, offering a new perspective on a field of research which deals with the interrelations of religion and international development. The concept, we propose, allows for an analysis of a wide array of projects of transformation without presupposing religion, secularity and development as different given spheres or concepts. Following criticisms of the instrumental use of a sui generis concept of religion and a narrow definition of development, we suggest a focus on the relational, on-going constitution of development and religion through transformative practices of religious engineering. This refers to ways of working on the future shape of a society, group or individual, where the ‘engineers’ allude to what they understand as religious traditions and practices. At the same time, the concept accesses purposeful transformations of religious traditions and self-understandings that are spurred on by such projects of societal and/or individual improvement.
ISSN:1096-1151
Contains:Enthalten in: Religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2020.1792053