Religion Studies is not a large basket full of things that must be known and remembered. It is, first and foremost, a discipline, or craft, that must be done . Like all crafts, it requires certain tools that need to be understood and certain skills that can only be acquired through exercise and practice. In this chapter you will be introduced to some basic tools in the toolbox of this discipline, and some skills that need to be developed. Prepare yourself to learn how to do Religion Studies. In more formal language, you will make a start with some important aspects of the methodology of Religion Studies.
“Methodology” can be a very intimidating word. Sometimes it looks as if scholars spend more time debating methodology than actually doing the job!. But it really comes down to one simple rule:
If you ask a stupid question, you will get a stupid answer.
Luckily for us, the opposite is equally true:
If you ask the right question, you will get a good answer.
It is therefore worth our while to spend some time ensuring that the questions we ask about the world of religious beliefs, institutions and behaviours are the right ones.