Karnaukhova N. Рhenomenological model of religion of Ninian Smart.

The thesis work is devoted to the phenomenological model of religion of Ninian Smart, definition of its heuristic opportunities and critical re-evaluation of theological and philosophical concepts on which it is based. The author analyzed main forms of phenomenology of religion as a narrative background on which the ideas of N. Smart have emerged, and specific features of the proposed phenomenological approach and study of types of such religious experience which is mostly based on methodological agnosticism. The author gave reasons for prospects of principles of structured empathy and typological phenomenology which were involved by N. Smart, and for concepts of "experiencing", "superimposition", "extensive interpretation" for characteristics of experiencing of such religious experience which implies interpretation. The author studied the transformation of views of N. Smart concerning the main dimensions of religion (increasing emphasis on diachronic and synchronic fluidity of religious factuality, patterns of variability, dynamics of complementary elements of religion) and presented detailed specificity of their division into "historical" (philosophical, mythical, ethical) and "parahistorical" (ritual, experiential, social, material, political, economic) dimensions. The author also found out the methodological value of the concept of religious focus, explicated by N. Smart, and understanding of religion as transcendentally focused one that reveals key concepts of "expression" and "manifestation" of human intentions for the neo-phenomenology.