Patrick Hart - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Drafts by Patrick Hart
Religion and Theology, 2019
In "The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle," Kierkegaard deploys the figure of Paul as th... more In "The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle," Kierkegaard deploys the figure of Paul as the archetype of an apostle, who "does not develop in such a way as he gradually becomes what he is [according to potentiality]." This claim would seem at odds with much contemporary Pauline scholarship, which understands Paul's writings as an ad hoc, developing, quasi-guerrilla sort of theology. While this may be the case, Kierkegaard's essay is nonetheless deserving of attention, for it highlights an issue that arguably remains a tacit foundation of Pauline studies -namely, the identification and resulting allure of Paul as an inherently authoritative figure in early Christianity.
Papers by Patrick Hart
Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal (forthcoming), 2018
Queen's Law Journal 43:1 (2017), 2017
In Wall v Judicial Committee of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Alberta Cou... more In Wall v Judicial Committee of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed that the judiciary could review a religious tribunal's decision to expel one of its members. The ruling reflects a highly intrusive approach when it comes to judicial interference in the affairs of voluntary associations (including religious organizations), and calls for careful reflection on the concept of “justiciability,” which sets limits to the types of matters that warrant judicial interference.
This study analyzes the Alberta Court of Appeal's ruling in Wall, and argues that the majority’s decision fails to appreciate the nuanced relationship between the rule of law and justiciability, particularly as it relates to judicial interference in the affairs of private actors (including religious associations). Further, this study proposes a more effective method to analyzing the issue of justiciability in cases such as Wall.
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, 2016
In the academic study of religion, the words "method" and "theory" possess an immutable, authorit... more In the academic study of religion, the words "method" and "theory" possess an immutable, authoritative aura and typically function to amplify the legitimacy of any given study. What is more ambiguous, however, is whether those of us engaged in the study of religion actually have a shared understanding of these terms, and whether we are sufficiently attentive to the way in which we use them. Given this ambiguity, and given how pervasive "method" and "theory" are in our field, scholars of religion should be (in the words of J.Z. Smith) "relentlessly self-conscious" and give some consideration to how our discipline has appropriated these terms. Ultimately, I argue that attention to their genealogy can help us better orient ourselves when it comes to deploying "method" and "theory" in our studies.
Religion and Theology, 2019
In "The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle," Kierkegaard deploys the figure of Paul as th... more In "The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle," Kierkegaard deploys the figure of Paul as the archetype of an apostle, who "does not develop in such a way as he gradually becomes what he is [according to potentiality]." This claim would seem at odds with much contemporary Pauline scholarship, which understands Paul's writings as an ad hoc, developing, quasi-guerrilla sort of theology. While this may be the case, Kierkegaard's essay is nonetheless deserving of attention, for it highlights an issue that arguably remains a tacit foundation of Pauline studies -namely, the identification and resulting allure of Paul as an inherently authoritative figure in early Christianity.
Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal (forthcoming), 2018
Queen's Law Journal 43:1 (2017), 2017
In Wall v Judicial Committee of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Alberta Cou... more In Wall v Judicial Committee of the Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Alberta Court of Appeal affirmed that the judiciary could review a religious tribunal's decision to expel one of its members. The ruling reflects a highly intrusive approach when it comes to judicial interference in the affairs of voluntary associations (including religious organizations), and calls for careful reflection on the concept of “justiciability,” which sets limits to the types of matters that warrant judicial interference.
This study analyzes the Alberta Court of Appeal's ruling in Wall, and argues that the majority’s decision fails to appreciate the nuanced relationship between the rule of law and justiciability, particularly as it relates to judicial interference in the affairs of private actors (including religious associations). Further, this study proposes a more effective method to analyzing the issue of justiciability in cases such as Wall.
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, 2016
In the academic study of religion, the words "method" and "theory" possess an immutable, authorit... more In the academic study of religion, the words "method" and "theory" possess an immutable, authoritative aura and typically function to amplify the legitimacy of any given study. What is more ambiguous, however, is whether those of us engaged in the study of religion actually have a shared understanding of these terms, and whether we are sufficiently attentive to the way in which we use them. Given this ambiguity, and given how pervasive "method" and "theory" are in our field, scholars of religion should be (in the words of J.Z. Smith) "relentlessly self-conscious" and give some consideration to how our discipline has appropriated these terms. Ultimately, I argue that attention to their genealogy can help us better orient ourselves when it comes to deploying "method" and "theory" in our studies.