THE DUTCH TRADITION OF THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF RELIGION

Abstract

This presents presents the Dutch phenomenology of religion, focusing on Chantepie de La Saussaye, Brede Kristensen, and Gerardus Van der Leeuw, based on this tradition’s critique of evolutionary approaches in the history of religions. The Dutch intellectual context is examined, particularly debates within Neo-Calvinism regarding Christianity and Modernity. It is shown that Chantepie and Kristensen anticipated ideas close to Husserlian phenomenology by studying religion in a systematic and organic way. Van der Leeuw is highlighted as the founder of phenomenology of religion in the Husserlian sense, bridging the Dutch tradition with philosophical phenomenology.

Keywords: Phenomenology of religion; Chantepie de La Saussaye; Brede Kristensen; Gerardus Van der Leeuw.