What is Phenomenological approach according to Ninian Smart, the Chichester project?

Hi asajile

 A definition of what you are looking for is found here:
DISKUS Webedition - (
http://www.uni-marburg.de/religionswissenschaft/journal/diskus/sutton.html
)
The author of the article is Nicholas Sutton.

 "This new perspective adopts a strictly neutral standpoint and
confines itself to a phenomenological approach that allows descriptive
analysis of religious traditions without recourse to any pre-ordained
standard of reference, and hence allows each tradition to speak with
its own voice unfettered by cultural interpretation. According to
Ninian Smart, the discipline of Religious Studies must examine its
subject from a position "outside the field", undertaking ". . . the
attempt at value-free descriptions in religion". It differs from
Theology in a functional sense, aiming at description rather than
commendation." - Quote from article by Nicholas Sutton/DISKUS
Webedition/DISKUS Vol.1 No.2 (1993) pp.55-65

In short, the phenomenological approach is the study of other faiths
without preconceived notions or making comparisons with other faiths
only for the purpose of finding where they are in error in regard to
your own. The phenomenological approach of Ninian Smart is a plea for
objectivity in religious study.

search - Google
key words - I cut and pasted your question in the Google search field.

If you need any reasonable clarification, please ask.

Cheers
digsalot