Thus, in some ways, development studies is well equipped to
understand the complex and context-dependent ways in which
religion influences people’s lives. One difficulty or challenge
however remains, and that is dealing with the transcendental
nature of religion. All religions believe that there is a higher
reality that transcends earthly human realities. This transcendental
understanding, which directs how people live their lives
on earth, may give rise to conflict between “religion” and
“development” policy and practice which, as discussed above,
remains rooted in the secular tradition and it is, as yet, by no
means clear how the transcendent and sacred dimensions can
be reflected in development studies. Each religion has its own
tradition of scholarship, with different epistemological foundations
and methodological approaches from those of the social
sciences: for example, theology in Christianity, law and jurisprudence
in Islam, philosophy in Hinduism or Buddhism. Of
course, not all those engaged in development theory and research
can become experts in these “insider” disciplines. But
it is important nonetheless that, when studying unfamiliar or
multi-religious contexts, they develop a basic religious literacy,
particularly with respect to how different faith traditions interpret
the core concerns of development, such as justice, equality,
poverty, and sustainability.