Berryman2005

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Berryman2005
BibType ARTICLE
Key Berryman2005
Author(s) Edward Berryman
Title Belief, Apparitions, and Rationality: The Social Scientific Study of Religion after Wittgenstein
Editor(s)
Tag(s) Apparitions, Epistemology, Ethnomethodology, Rationality, Religious Belief, Wittgenstein
Publisher
Year 2005
Language
City
Month
Journal Human Studies
Volume 28
Number 1
Pages 15–39
URL Link
DOI 10.1007/s10746-005-3595-6
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

The goal I pursue is to redefine the study of religious epistemology on the basis of an ethnomethodological extension of Wittgenstein. This approach shows that the nature of religious belief and its relation to facts, proofs, and empirical reality are matters that are dealt with by ordinary members of society. The examination of this lay epistemology reveals that – far from being a settled and established entity – religious belief is a polymorphous phenomenon. Religious belief is a pragmatic resource whose configuration is shaped to allow the accomplishment of interactional moves within specific contexts. I defend this thesis by analyzing accounts pertaining to a contemporary religious apparition claim.

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