현대 종교학 이론의 현황과 전망 : 새로운 비교종교방법론의 발전 가능성과 그 뱡향 -조나단 스미스의 "같은 지점"의 확인을 통해-

Abstract

Jonathan Z. Smith has constituted his comparative methodology through his efforts to get at its higher level than that of many classical scholars, with whom Smith shares "the same point" of comparison. This same point has been aimed at by scholars who argue for scientific or rigorously scholarly studies of religion. It is obvious that Smith stations himself on this same point but at a higher level than his contemporary scholars of comparative religion. Though William Paden suggests a list of proper comparative methods and titles it "new comparitivism," it does not show a better point or a better level than those of Smith. In addition, Smith is prominent in that he offers his own interpretations and explanations of religious phenomena, in contrast to many contemporary scholars including Paden. To Smith, comparison, as such, is not the aim of comparative religion but a means for explaining and interpreting religion. Even if a scholar does not agree with Smith's point that emphasizes the perspective of social science and regards religion as the matter of representation and language, it is possible for the scholar to develop "a higher level" and to suggest valuable comparative methods as long as he/she recognizes his/her own scholarly position.