Prelude

Abstract

So that its positive elements are not lost in the detailed critiques of errors in the study of contemporary religion, this prelude lists and briefly justifies seven basic principles that should guide the researcher. Before we can explain people’s beliefs and behaviour, we need to understand them. As talk is cheap, we should study what people do as well as what they say. Participation is always helpful because joining in activities allows us to check that we understand them. Although we should always be interested in how people see the world and hence should listen to them, we must always be sceptical of what we are told. We should always consider how representative are our subjects. We should hesitate to attribute to others motives we would not impute to ourselves. And, most importantly, we should always be polite and show gratitude to those we study.