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The Theological Basis for the Idea of a Quasi-Religion
Abstract
This article analyses the existence of several religious phenomena common in western studies of religion — especially the idea of a quasi-religion. It differentiates between two approaches to the study of quasi-religion: one phenomenological and the other sociological. It studies the theories proposed by Paul Tillich, John Smith, and Arthur Greil. The author of the present article agrees that these ideas are based on real theological prerequisites. The idea of a quasi-religion helps us to understand the connection and interdisciplinary rapport between theology and religious studies during the whole of the twentieth century.
Keywords
QUASIRELIGION, THEOLOGY, PAUL TILLICH, PHENOMENOLOGY OF RELIGION, SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION, J. WACH, J. SMITH, A. GREIL, M. HAMILTON