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Synopsis of Conference on ‘The Dialectic Interpretation of Religious Phenomena’
Convener: Professor Hans Mol
The Conference proposes to examine the fields of identity and religion and the matrix of variables by which the relations between the two can be understood as an interactive comprehending dynamic by applying the dialectical method of interpretation.
Professor Mol is interested not only in how identity (as a means of ordering the world according to a set of loyalties and allegiances held in common with others) and religion (as a means of ordering the world according to a transcendental theology) respond to the world reactively and proactively but also in how they act upon one another.
Professor Mol briefly examines a number of other interpretative methods of identity and religion, eg:
phenomenology;
hermeneutics;
structuralism;
psychoanalysis;
functionalism;
conflict theory;
Marxism;
deprivation theory;
against the dialectical method and finds each of the others wanting, either by way of inherent flaws or deficiencies in scope. He concludes that the dialectical method offers the best possibilities for constructing an interpretative method by which to think about and to comprehend religion and identity.
In his call for a re-examination of the interpretative methods currently used to comprehend identity and religion Professor Mol also proposes a re-examination of the language and terminology by which scholars have so far sought to convey their comprehensions.
Professor Mol postulates that the dialectical method of thesis anti-theses and synthesis provides the most comprehending of methods by which to conduct these examinations.
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