Categories are tools for thought, not reflections of essence... - Jonathan Z. Smith

"Categories are tools for thought, not reflections of essence."

Jonathan Z. Smith Knowledge

Historian of Religion American 1938–2017

More from Jonathan Z. Smith

"Religion is not about believing things. It is about belonging to things."

"The real issue is not belief, but belonging."

"Comparison is a fundamental cognitive tool."

"There is no data that is absolutely sacred."

"We're not just after treasure. We're preserving history."

"The mind is humanity's greatest tool."

"A tidy room reflects a tidy mind."

"You can learn a lot about a person by how they keep their space."