A Study of Wilfred Cantwell Smith’s Understanding of Religion in his The Meaning and End of Religion

Wilfred Cantwell Smith had a special understanding of the definition of religion. After a detailed survey of the meaning of religion in different cultures and the transformations in the usage of the word, he claimed that the concept of “religion” has been reified in modernity. He suggests that we use faith and cumulative tradition instead. After reviewing Smith’s work, I read it in the context of different substantive and functional theories of religion. I end my thesis by an analysis and criticism of Smith’s work. Following Talal Asad, I agree that Smith’s work can be more useful if one pays more attention to religious practice, and a study of religion and secularism together. Some of Smith’s historical grounds, especially the ones that relate to the history of Islam , can also be questioned.