Hinduism and the ‘World Religion’ fallacy

1 April 1990

journal article
research article
Published by Taylor & Francis in Religion

Vol. 20 (2) , 101-118
https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-721x(90)90099-r

Abstract

The present argument is (1) that a broadly sociological approach to Indian religion is more fruitful analytically than the ‘World Religion’ approach; (2) that the conception of Hinduism as a World Religion is highly artificial, and has been created by some theological needs; (3) that the case of Hinduism highlights more general problems with the notion of the World Religions. The implication of this argument is that the World Religion approach, which dominates the study of religion in schools and colleges, creates more confusion than clarity. A sketch of an alternative approach is offered.

Keywords

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