Joahim Wach’s Approach to Islam within Religionswissenschaft

Among various other religious traditions Joachim Wach sought to understand Islam withinhis own approach of Religionswissenschaft. There are three basic issues that attract attention when Joachim Wach talks about Islam: First is the dichotomy and comparison he employs when he teaches Islam to a Christian audience. Second is his depiction of the Prophet Muhammad as the founder of a religion and as a political leader. Third is the sources Wach is dependent upon when he relates Islam. Based upon these three instances of Wach’s attitude, we may conclude that he reflects the contemporary reductionist and orientalist approach towards Islam. Recently, the nature and methods of Religionswis-senschaft has been subject to postmodern critique and it is being reconstructed accordingly. It is also vital for the Turkish academia, who still adheres to the definition and guidelines of Jocahim Wach, to reconsider its approach to Religionswissenschaft.