Summative Paper from Gary M. Jarson on Religious Studies: Thinking Religion in Place – The Sacred In Rebus

Dr Neville Buch

Abstract

In the contemporary intellectual landscape, Gary Jaron’s (2021/2022) definition of Religious Studies as the study of the sacred and our response to what we consider sacred serves as a vital catalyst for moving the field beyond the limited recognition of supernatural entities toward a study of human action. Dr. Neville Buch evaluates this shift through the lens of Spiral Historiography and the ”topological turn,” arguing that while Jaron correctly identifies the sacred as a continuum of human values, this meaning must be anchored ”in rebus” (in the thing itself) within specific historical and physical landscapes. This essay explores Buch’s take on Jaron, utilizing the Dynamic of Cognition (DoC) framework to contrast “potted thinking” and “historical forgetfulness” with a humanistic ascent toward Human Authorship and Planetary Wisdom.

https://www.academia.edu/169110128/Summative_Paper_from_Gary_M_Jarson_on_Religious_Studies_Thinking_Religion_in_Place_The_Sacred_In_Rebus

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Neville Buch

Professional Historian at Professional Historians Association (Queensland) Inc.

Neville Buch (Pronounced Book) Ph.D. is a certified member of the Professional Historians Association (Queensland). Since 2010 he has operated a sole trade business in history consultancy. He was a Q ANZAC 100 Fellow 2014-2015 at the State Library of Queensland. Dr Buch was the PHA (Qld) e-Bulletin, the monthly state association’s electronic publication, and was a member of its Management Committee. He is the Managing Director of the Brisbane Southside History Network.

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