Religiology

Religiology is a term sometimes used to refer to the academic study of religion. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws upon various methodologies and perspectives from disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, and comparative literature to understand the phenomenon of religion. Scholars in this field seek to analyze the beliefs, practices, rituals, myths, and social structures associated with different religious traditions, as well as the psychological and cultural factors that contribute to their existence and evolution.

The study of religion as an academic discipline is distinct from theology, which typically approaches religion from within a specific faith tradition and aims to understand its doctrines and truths. Religiology, in contrast, endeavors to approach religion from a more objective, external viewpoint, aiming for descriptive and analytical understanding rather than prescriptive or devotional engagement. It examines religion as a universal human experience and a significant aspect of human culture and history, without necessarily making claims about the truth or falsehood of any particular religious belief. The term itself, while not universally adopted or consistently defined, signals an interest in the systematic and broad study of religious phenomena across diverse cultures and historical periods.