A Maxim of J. Z. Smith

In his popular class, Intro to Religious Studies, Smith told,

"There is no such thing as religion. It is only a scholars' invention. Religion is a reinterpretation of interpretations."

This famous scholar of religion is now the president of our guild, Society of Biblical Literature!

Just read his presidential address in Journal of Biblical Literature,

"Religion and Bible," Smith, Jonathan Z.. Journal of Biblical Literature, Spring2009, Vol. 128 Issue 1, p5-27, 23p