Religious practice

Abstract

The work of historians and sociologists in the last thirty years has spurred within the field of religious studies a vibrant interest in the notion of "practice". While it has been increasingly used in discourse on various subjects, there has not been much concentrated attention on the notion itself. Contemporary Buddhist ethics and the "Christian practices" movement have both expanded upon its relevance and importance to religious life and study; however, my aim is to provide additional breadth and depth to this inquiry. In addition to the historical development of the rise of "practice" discourse, issues of text, context and compartmentalization supply additional facets to enrich this area of study. I aim to offer a working definition of "religious practice", to cite its appearance in religious texts and to illustrate its relevance to daily life.