Revelation and the Science of Religion: Between Positivism and Postmodernism

Abstract

The article deals with the book by A.V. Appolonov “The Science of Religion and Its Postmodern Critics” (2018), in which the author investigates both the methodological issues, associated with the discipline, and the opposition of religion and revelation. A.V. Appolonov criticizes many scholars, both well-known classics (K. Bart), and lesser-known but recognized authorities (W.K. Smith), as well as a number of Russian researchers. A.V. Appolonov defends the view that religion can be the object of an impartial analysis only if we a priori exclude the idea of supernatural revelation. The article will raise the question of how A.V. Appolonov justifies this approach to the study of religion and on what methodological preconditions it can be based.