The problem of understanding religions in the history of religions methodology

Social sciences began to act with a positivist scientific perspective since the 19th century. History of Religions, as a social science, loses its objective perspective when it tries to understand religions from a positivist perspective. For this reason, the History of Religions has developed some methods to preserve its non-normative dynamism. Due to the characteristics of the subjects it is interested in, this branch of science can, on the one hand, use methods such as "historical comparison" and "new comparativeism" with a historical perspective, while on the other hand, it can use methods such as "phenomenology" borrowed from philosophy. In this context, it is important for the History of Religions researcher to know both the historical development and intellectual foundations of these methods in order to understand and interpret religions more objectively, in terms of the accuracy of scientific research. In this context, in the first part of our thesis, positivism in social sciences and its reflection on methodology are mentioned. In addition, opinions about the modern foundation of the History of Religions and its methodology were discussed. In addition, thoughts that cause problems in the view of religions have been put forward. In the second part, some methods such as "historical comparison", "new comparativeism", "phenomenological" and "hermeneutics" used by the History of Religions in looking at religions were examined. By examining these methods, it is aimed to contribute to the historians of religions' understanding and interpretation of religions from an objective perspective.