英文摘要 |
This paper is a critical introduction to and reflection upon Ninian Smart's theory of religion, with emphases on analyzing its primary contents and presupposition as well as pointing out the major problems it faces. The paper first spells out the intellectual context of England of the 1960s when the trend of globalization and pluralism began to take shape. It notes that in this critical period of historical transformation, Smart observed that traditional definition of religion, dominated by Christian theology, was inadequate to cope with the new phenomenon of religious pluralism. Thereupon he upheld 'worldview' to supersede 'religion.' His purpose was to broaden the scope of 'religion,' even to the point of bringing various types of humanism and ideology into the scholar's vision, in order to lay out a new foundation for academic discourses. He also coined the idea of 'dimension' with which to collect and systematize the complicated manifestations of 'worldviews.' He further proposed clear steps along which the scholar of religion should do his or her study, a methodic procedure from material arrangement to comparison and finally to philosophical interpretation. This paper proceeds to affirm that Smart's theory of religion contains a clear Problematik, an innovative vision of 'religion,' and an eclectic methodology. However, the paper argues that Smart fails to go beyond the Christian theological framework which he severely criticizes. That is, with his obvious stress on phenomenological grasping of religion, Smart is still caught between the tension of the sacred versus the profane or essence versus manifestation. His dilemma, the paper concludes, reflects one of the key issues in the study of religion that deserves our serious consideration with respect to defining religion. |