Spirit Possession in Buddhist Southeast Asia 2022 - Worlds Ever More Enchanted (Hardcover)

In dramatic contrast to the reported growing influence of doctrinal and fundamentalist forms of religion in some parts of Southeast Asia, the predominantly Buddhist societies of the region are witnessing an upsurge of spirit possession cults and diverse forms of magical ritual. This is found in many social strata, including the urban poor, rising middle classes and elite groups, and across the different political systems of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. This volume reveals both the central historical place of spirit possession rituals in the Buddhist cultures of mainland Southeast Asia and their important contemporary roles to enhance prosperity and protection. This book examines the increasing prominence of spirit mediumship and divination across the region by exploring the interplay of neoliberal capitalism, visual media, the network cultures of the Internet, and the politics of cultural heritage and identity. It advances beyond critiques of the “secularization� and “disenchantment� theses to explore the processes of modernity that are actively producing magical worldviews and stimulating the rise of spirit cults. As such, it not only challenges the assumptions of modernization theory but demonstrates that the cults in question are novel ritual forms that emerge out of inherently modern conditions.

General

Imprint:	NIAS Press
Country of origin:	Denmark
Series:	NIAS Studies in Asian Topics, 74
Release date:	March 2022
Editors:	Bénédicte Brac de la Perrière • Peter A. Jackson
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	360
ISBN-13:	978-87-7694-309-7
Categories:	Books
LSN:	87-7694-309-7
Barcode:	9788776943097

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!