Tangible Religious Studies and Its Signification

Abstract

When considering contact and touch in the context of religion and religious studies, we tend to think of practice, not research or theory. I have been experimenting with the visualization and tangiblization of ancient Western religious thought, particularly that of Proclus, and have applied these methods to the design of teaching materials for religious studies. This paper outlines the method and shows that while it has its limitations as a research method, it is appealing for the creation of teaching materials and can promote students' understanding. I also examined the significance of touch in the religious thought of Plato and Neoplatonism, which was the starting point of this project. Consequently, it became clear that touch is not merely a physical tactile sense but can also be described as a direct approach to or the grasping of a religious object. In the wake of COVID-19, the discipline of religious studies attempts a nature quest through the lens of touch. This paper contributes to the understanding of tangible religious studies and its goal to understand the significance of direct contact with religious objects in a manner appropriate to the new era.