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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Can a case be made for ‘unlearning’ in the study of religions?
T2 - Applying the concept to the journeys of religious leavers
AU - Knott, Kim
PY - 2024/4/30
Y1 - 2024/4/30
N2 - The concept of ‘unlearning’ has been positively endorsed in both self-help literature and organisational research, but has yet to be discussed in the study of religions. Is there room for it in the conceptual space of religious socialisation, pedagogy and spiritual seeking? Where does it occur in the spiritual journey, and what is its purpose? From the perspective of social learning, and drawing on a definition and model from organisational studies, the case for ‘unlearning’ is considered with reference to those leaving religion. Addressing research gaps identified by organisational studies scholars, I consider how leavers experience the process of freeing themselves from previously held beliefs, practices and commitments. What is revealed is an iterative and emotionally-fraught process in which even voluntary religious leavers struggle to move on, often feeling powerless, even coerced by others. Whilst there is a broad fit between the basic process model of unlearning and what leavers experience, that is not the full story. Furthermore, questions remain about whether ‘unlearning’ is a necessary or suitable concept, not least of all because it is rarely used by scholars of religion or practitioners themselves, all of whom prefer other terms.
AB - The concept of ‘unlearning’ has been positively endorsed in both self-help literature and organisational research, but has yet to be discussed in the study of religions. Is there room for it in the conceptual space of religious socialisation, pedagogy and spiritual seeking? Where does it occur in the spiritual journey, and what is its purpose? From the perspective of social learning, and drawing on a definition and model from organisational studies, the case for ‘unlearning’ is considered with reference to those leaving religion. Addressing research gaps identified by organisational studies scholars, I consider how leavers experience the process of freeing themselves from previously held beliefs, practices and commitments. What is revealed is an iterative and emotionally-fraught process in which even voluntary religious leavers struggle to move on, often feeling powerless, even coerced by others. Whilst there is a broad fit between the basic process model of unlearning and what leavers experience, that is not the full story. Furthermore, questions remain about whether ‘unlearning’ is a necessary or suitable concept, not least of all because it is rarely used by scholars of religion or practitioners themselves, all of whom prefer other terms.
KW - learning
KW - unlearning
KW - leaving religion
KW - study of religions
KW - deconversion
KW - apostasy
U2 - 10.30664/ar.137535
DO - 10.30664/ar.137535
M3 - Journal article
VL - 14
SP - 190
EP - 209
JO - Approaching Religion
JF - Approaching Religion
SN - 1799-3121
IS - 2
ER -