ABSTRACT
One group of contributions may be categorized as explicitly concerned with the discourse on the notion of syncretism. This chapter examines the topics relating to syncretism into two analytical positions. One position concerning the notion of syncretism includes the historical background of the term and the accompanying analyses of the discourses regarding the notion. The other position concerns the classification of the actual phenomenon of syncretism in regard to its nature. Kraemer claimed that syncretism is innate to particular non-Christian religions, whereas history demonstrates that anti-syncretism is mainly an invention of Christianity. In various ways the discursive level overlaps the historic descriptive level of explanation, because the discourses of syncretism, whether in theology or in the study of religion, have repercussions in history that we must take notice of in our study of religiosity in general. The category of syncretism is a very good example of how the scale creates the phenomenon.
