Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 For such a time as this: the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion, 1969–2009
- Part I Inventing and reinventing the field of religious studies
- Part II Method and theory in religious studies
- Part III Teaching religion
- Part IV Women and the bible in religious studies
- Part V Religion and religious studies in civic life
- 24 Contemporary socio-political change and the work of religious studies
- 25 The scholar of religion as a cultural critic: perspectives from Denmark
- 26 What are the humanities and why do they matter? The case of religion and public life
- 27 Response to Gary Lease's “What are the humanities, and why do they matter?”
- 28 So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life
- 29 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 30 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 31 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 32 Rejoinder
- Part VI Religious studies and identity politics
- Part VII Islam and 9/11
- Bibliography
- Acknowledgments
- Index
31 - Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
from Part V - Religion and religious studies in civic life
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1 For such a time as this: the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion, 1969–2009
- Part I Inventing and reinventing the field of religious studies
- Part II Method and theory in religious studies
- Part III Teaching religion
- Part IV Women and the bible in religious studies
- Part V Religion and religious studies in civic life
- 24 Contemporary socio-political change and the work of religious studies
- 25 The scholar of religion as a cultural critic: perspectives from Denmark
- 26 What are the humanities and why do they matter? The case of religion and public life
- 27 Response to Gary Lease's “What are the humanities, and why do they matter?”
- 28 So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life
- 29 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 30 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 31 Response to Raymond B. Williams's “So, what are we professing here? Religion, the liberal arts, and civic life”
- 32 Rejoinder
- Part VI Religious studies and identity politics
- Part VII Islam and 9/11
- Bibliography
- Acknowledgments
- Index
Summary
To slightly rephrase Professor Williams's initial question, let me ask: “What, indeed, is our profession?” From my undergrad days to my current lot as a graduate student, I have looked to the front of the classroom (usually from the back row, admittedly, but for the most part paying attention), and witnessed a variety of stated and unstated professions—made as teacher, scholar, one of the faithful (or one of no faith), citizen, etc. Williams's lecture reminds us that the individual in front of the classroom has not one profession, but many. One of our professions comes from our first-order religious experience, which is quite separate from our other professions as scholars and teachers. The latter professions, based around second-order reflection, have traits such as the fact that “as teachers we are agents of development of a fundamental human characteristic.” We also have a profession that simultaneously comes out of our first-order experience of being citizens of a society—in fact, a number of interconnected societies and groups—and our second-order experience rooted in the need to constantly construct and renew the meaning and purpose of these groups. This is seen in Williams's definition of citizens as “free individuals who will be wise [enough] to govern themselves and society.” While much in his lecture provokes discussion, it was the question of what we are professing that piqued my interest, pushing me toward a few questions of my own.
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- Information
- Reinventing Religious StudiesKey Writings in the History of a Discipline, pp. 195 - 196Publisher: Acumen PublishingPrint publication year: 2013