Friedrich Max Müller and Cornelis Petrus Tiele’s Framework for the Scientific Study of Religion: A Critique

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Document Type : Research Paper

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Associate Professor, Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar, Calabar.

Abstract

During the Renaissance and Reformation eras, the discipline of religious studies saw a notable paradigm change. This movement entailed a departure from the previous emphasis on Christian apologetics and polemics towards a more rigorous and analytical evaluation of established religious ideas. Friedrich Max Müller and Cornelis Petrus Tiele were instrumental in facilitating this paradigm shift by their rigorous scientific investigations into the field of religion. This article provides an overview of the scholarly contributions made by the authors in the field of religious studies. It explores their viewpoints on key concepts such as neutrality, objectivity, error study, and comparative religion. Notwithstanding the presence of detractors, their scholarly endeavors established the foundational framework for conducting a thorough examination of religious phenomena on an international level, hence facilitating the development of comparative religious studies. In the present day, the academic investigation of religion persists as a means for researchers to engage in a systematic and analytical examination, hence there is need to incorporate environmental and ecological aspects and poststructuralist deconstruction, thereby enhancing comprehension of the societal significance of religion. The founding studies of Müller and Tiele continue to hold significance and are indispensable in present-day study.

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Religious Inquiries

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 May 2024

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