ABSTRACT
The ambiguous concept 'syncretism' belongs to the basic inventory of the conceptual terminology of religious history as well as that of RW, and urgently requires closer examination, following up on various recent efforts. Religion swissenschaft is not bound to treat the believer's attitude as a criterion for the correct understanding in its scientific judgment, but must instead follow its own historical-critical methods. In this case, the theological and RW points of view are confused, or used as a cover. On the other was a theological usage introducing a negative approach to such a method, rendering the word an invective opposed to the blending of incompatible elements in a hybrid religion. The concept of 'syncretism' as an illegitimate combination cannot aid in understanding, a conclusion which failed to catch on since there is no clear conception of the task of Religion swissenschaft, the scholarly study of religion.
