Theory of Religion

Theory of Religion: Religion as Practical Logic

We focus on religion as a form of praxis with a specific logic. This logic disposes people to understand their experiences within social structures and processes by relating them to a transcendent entity. Via this reference, special forms of agency in social structures become possible: from the absolutization of one's own convictions over belief in miracles and prophecies to the relativization of every human being in the face of a higher power. From these processes specific identities and strategies emerge.

We put special emphasis on the relation of cognitive, emotional and bodily operations to the social structures in which religious actors live together with others. For this approach, we build upon the social theory of Pierre Bourdieu and the philosophies of Ernst Cassirer and Ludwig Wittgenstein. (See also HabitusAnalysis) Our concept of "religious praxis" is by no means only about knowledge, communication, narratives, or other cognitive operations. Our focus is on formative action within the constraints of objective social structures using knowledge and communication. Moreover, works in this area generally closely combine empirical research and theory development.

Selected Publications:

• On religious peace building in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina: Religious Credibility under Fire (2013). Leif Seibert.  
• On the religious field, see Religious Credibility under fire, pp. 213-254. Leif Seibert.
• On the importance of recourse to transcendence for religious praxis: "Meaningful strategies" (2020) and "Teuflische Konflikte" (Satanic conflicts, 2016). Schäfer.
• On religious identity: „Religiöse Identität – ein Netzwerk von Dispositionen“ (Religious identity – a network of dispositions, 2016). Schäfer.
• Short outline of a praxeological approach to religion: "Towards a Praxeology of Religious Life 1: modes of observation” (2015).  Schäfer, Leif Seibert, Adrian Tovar, Jens Köhrsen.
• On secularism, religious freedom, and the struggle of religious experts for political power:  „Laicismo, ética y poder religioso-político” (2021). Schäfer.
• On secularization from a Bourdieusian point of view: “Secularization as historical struggle” (2018). Schlerka.
• Constructing the categories "Islam/Muslims" in debates of the German parliament. On the significance of religious ascriptions in official politics. (2021) PUB. Schlerka.

Further literature can be found under "Publications Schäfer and Team".