McCall Relating Religion Review
The work of Jonathon Z. Smith has been influential on the study of religion since at least the mid-1970’s. Therefore, as if a culmination of ~35 years of writing, there honestly seems to be a large degree of repetition in this book, composed as it is of 17 independent articles written at varying times in Smith’s life. It seems that Smith is intent upon developing new categories of religious typology that do not presuppose a Judeo-Christian base of understanding (& thereby exclude apriori other, non-theistic religions). Smith first explains how he was drawn to the study of religion and outlines his own theoretical commitments. I had trouble comprehending the connection between the preceding material and the last essay, but upon re-reading it again, I can discern a slight semblance of continuity. Indeed, the final essay, “God save this honorable court”, Smith shows that since all legal definition of religious are circular and redundant, the idea of religious tolerance is empty of content. However, religious tolerance could have content, Smith argues, if we could provide a universal definition of religion, which I personally deem impossible. However, even considering my hesitancy of the “tolerance” averred above, I found Smith’s contention of the “science of Religion” as being one that encompassed everything and anything to be immeasurably worthwhile, as we Christians have for too long “played amongst ourselves”, and thereby have allowed the so-called ‘secular’ items regarding and relating to life be subsumed by powers at enmity with organized religion, to our individual and corporate detriment alike.