This article aims to clarify persistent issues in Mircea Eliade's approach to religion, questioning whether his method is primarily phenomenological or theological. It posits that Eliade's approach is fundamentally phenomenological, diverging from theological interpretations. It examines four key aspects of Eliade's method: the integration of historical methods, the concept of religion as *sui generis* and irreducible, the use of the term "sacred," and the hierarchical organization of religious phenomena. It also explores where Eliade's explanations of religious experience depart from strict phenomenology. By addressing these critical areas, the article provides a framework for understanding Eliade's work within a phenomenological context, offering valuable insights for scholars in religious studies and philosophy of religion.
Published in Religious Studies, this article is well-suited to the journal's focus on philosophical and theoretical explorations of religion. The discussion of Eliade's work, a prominent figure in the study of religion, directly aligns with the journal's scope. The analysis of Eliade's method and its relation to phenomenology makes the article relevant and significant to the journal's readership.