Critics Not Caretakers: Redescribing the Public Study of Religion

by Russell T. McCutcheon

A lively critique of the study of religion in the modern academy, one that makes the scholar of religion a cultural critic rather than a caretaker of a religious tradition or a guru dispensing timeless wisdom.

Genres: Religion

290 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truthfully, McCutcheon's tone is often off-putting throughout this book, as he aims to radically redescribe and recenter the study of religion in the public university setting. I understand that this is, in part, a rhetorical move designed for provocation, and perhaps even a necessary one to shake the staid and entrenched views of this book's primary audience. But as a result of this tone, I was initially quite reluctant to engage with his ideas as wholeheartedly as I'd have liked, and though this came in time, the cost of having to go back and reread the first few chapters was a tad annoying. Still, overall I found McCutcheon's views challenging in the best kind of way, where you want to fight with them, such that I found myself coming to terms with just what his concepts and theories mean for the study of religion generally and the work that I want to do. There are some challenges that he advances and ideas that he asserts that I'd like to explore more fully in texts beyond this one, but all in all this provides a useful framework for studying (and teaching) religious studies even today, some 20 years later.

[Roger Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a bit of a rant and being slightly dated, this is generally a good book. McCutcheon's frustrations are helpful in historically narrating the trials and tribulations of the field of religious studies and in many cases remain relevant. I find the late chapters on film and creating an intro class unhelpful for contemporary classrooms and he misunderstands Carl Raschke, only citing one short essay (dated even for when McCutheon cites it) without attention to his large amount of published works. But all and all, I agree with much of what McCutheon has to say about theory, not just for religious studying but literary studies as well.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCutcheon questions what the purpose the field of Comparative Religion serves- is it to promote cultural diversity and promote peace and ecumenicanism between different religions, or is it to take a cold hard look at religions and come what may?