Legitimizing Claims of Special Knowledge

A significant function of the category “religion” is demarcating and insulating particular claims special knowledge — but too often, Religious Studies serves to mystify defend this function, rather than critically analysing it. Drawing on categories in which are central, including Gnosticism, conspiracy theories esotericism, paper will look at history scholars operating within epistemes it should be critiquing. Yet a focus multiple overlapping knowledges, competition over epistemic capital, suggests possible future for social-scientific study religion.