Philosophy and Liturgy - Update 6
Update from the Philosophy and Liturgy conference:
Jamie Smith began by critiquing 20th-century philosophy of religion as clinging to rationalism and studying only the beliefs of religion rather than the lived experience and ritual practice, and reducing believers to merely holders of ideas rather than living beings. In this sense, he said, philosophers are working with the wrong tools—“thinking about thinking” rather than thinking about practice, ritual, and lived experience. Creeds, for example, did not originate as abstract statements of belief, but originated as prayers within a worshiping community. And so philosophers of religion, Smith said, will need to gain an interest and ability to consider the affective as well as the cognitive in religion.
Next entry: Philosophy and Liturgy - Update 7
Previous entry: Philosophy and Liturgy - Update 5