Methodological atheism, methodological agnosticism and religious experience

Abstract

The social constructionist iorin of bracketing Peter Berger labeled "methodological atheism" is now a taken for granted presupposition in the sociological study of religion. This paper argues that in application to religious experience, methodological atheism is both untenable and injurious to sociology's aims. Even worse. consistently applied, methodological atheism ultimately dissolves the very category of experience. More truly neutral than methodological atheism, this paper argues, and actually more in line with what Berger seeks to protect, is a form of bracketing that might be labeled methodological agnosticism. Methodological agnosticism is the form of bracketing that tends to be employed by the psychology of religion. This paper argues that sociology should follow suit. © 2000 The Executive Management Committee/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.