Critical Realism and Religion: Objectivity and the Insider/Outsider Problem

This article uses the insider/outsider problem in the study of religion and a critical realist interpretation of objectivity to discuss two dialectics present in geography of religion literature: geography of religion versus religious geography, and politics versus poetics. Recent developments in critical realism include a “spiritual turn” in which critical realism as both a metaphilosophy and a method is applied to religious thought. A critical realist understanding of objectivity can effectively address tensions in geography of religion literature by suggesting that the insider/outsider problem is not the most appropriate filter to discriminate between religious geography and geography of religion or the politics and poetics of religion. I suggest that an Eliadian fear of reductionism is not necessary and that epistemic relativism coupled with reflexivity can coexist with an ontological approach.