This book examines the significance of religion in the work of the twentieth century philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin. Exploring Bakhtin’s contribution to debates on methodology in the study of religion, this book argues that his use of religious terminology is derived from his source material in philosophy of religion and not from his confessional commitment to Russian Orthodox Christianity. Critiquing Gavin Flood’s important work Beyond Phenomenology, Hilary Bagshaw explains how Bakhtin’s work on ’outsideness’ presents invaluable insights for scholars of religion, particularly pertinent to the contemporary insider/outsider debate.

Dr Bagshaw has recently completed her doctoral thesis at the University of Sheffield’s Bakhtin Centre. Her Master’s degree was in Oriental and African Religions at SOAS, where she was introduced to Bakhtin’s ideas and developed her interest in methodology in the study of religion.