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Narratives about people haunted by demons have a long tradition in the Middle East. The Koran addresses the existence of demons, although their overall significance in it is limited. In contrast, dangerous demons and accompanying phenomena, such as the evil eye and witchcraft, play a vital role in concepts of folk religion. Particularly in peripheral and rural areas of the present-day Syrian Arab Republic, many people have stories to tell about their own encounters with such supernatural beings. In my research, I have collected such narratives, orally transmitted over time, and I have reconstructed subsequent discourses. More specifically, I have pursued the two following questions: In which spatial and temporal spheres do demons appear? And: Which human behaviours are likely to cause dangerous demons to appear? My analysis firstly replicated and extended structural approaches which presume demons and other metaphysical entities in spatial and temporal border zones. Secondly, evidence was collected to demonstrate that demons appear primarily when humans are faced with uncertainties - regarding ethical-moral decisions, regarding the realm of sexuality, or the construction of individual and collective identities. Narratives about encounters with demons inevitably lead to discourses about important issues of great urgency. In theory they can be described as conflict-laden topics regarding ethics and morals, sexuality, social change, and identity. However, the topics of these discourses are not abstract theories claiming universal validity. Quite the contrary: On the basis of concrete events in concrete contexts, concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow.

Jinn --- Islamic demonology --- Folklore --- Ethnology --- Religion --- Philosophy & Religion --- Islam --- History. --- History --- Syria --- Religious life and customs. --- Social Anthropology --- Djinn --- Ethnography --- Evil Eye --- Böser Blick --- Sozialanthropologie --- Syrien

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Narratives about people haunted by demons have a long tradition in the Middle East. The Koran addresses the existence of demons, although their overall significance in it is limited. In contrast, dangerous demons and accompanying phenomena, such as the evil eye and witchcraft, play a vital role in concepts of folk religion. Particularly in peripheral and rural areas of the present-day Syrian Arab Republic, many people have stories to tell about their own encounters with such supernatural beings. In my research, I have collected such narratives, orally transmitted over time, and I have reconstructed subsequent discourses. More specifically, I have pursued the two following questions: In which spatial and temporal spheres do demons appear? And: Which human behaviours are likely to cause dangerous demons to appear? My analysis firstly replicated and extended structural approaches which presume demons and other metaphysical entities in spatial and temporal border zones. Secondly, evidence was collected to demonstrate that demons appear primarily when humans are faced with uncertainties - regarding ethical-moral decisions, regarding the realm of sexuality, or the construction of individual and collective identities. Narratives about encounters with demons inevitably lead to discourses about important issues of great urgency. In theory they can be described as conflict-laden topics regarding ethics and morals, sexuality, social change, and identity. However, the topics of these discourses are not abstract theories claiming universal validity. Quite the contrary: On the basis of concrete events in concrete contexts, concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Concrete options for a virtuous and good life are discussed. These concretizations, in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. in the narratives as well as in the discourses, form an effective strategy in creating security in a world full of uncertainties. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. The folk religious concepts regarding the demons' influence therefore provide an opportunity to cope with negative experiences of contingency. Moreover, particular relevance of the local-cultural beliefs in demons lies in dealing with value conflicts. Focusing on situations of daily life, such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow. Such local-cultural concepts appear to be valid even when contrasted with other, concurring models of reality. Viewed in this light, they are essential, practical, and useful for the people in the Syrian periphery - at least today, and perhaps also tomorrow.

Jinn --- Islamic demonology --- Folklore --- Jinn --- Ethnology --- Religion --- Philosophy & Religion --- Islam --- Social Anthropology --- Islam --- Djinn --- Ethnography --- Syria --- Evil Eye --- Böser Blick --- Sozialanthropologie --- Syrien --- History. --- History. --- History --- Syria --- Religious life and customs. --- Social Anthropology --- Islam --- Djinn --- Ethnography --- Syria --- Evil Eye --- Böser Blick --- Sozialanthropologie --- Syrien

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Le Coran consacre de nombreux développements à la place de l'homme dans le cosmos, lui qui fait partie, avec les anges, les animaux et les djinns, du « monde des vivants ». Il décrit les rapports complexes entre les anges et Adam, devant lequel ils doivent se prosterner, et évoque l'adoration des animaux envers Dieu. Mais quelle est au final la place de l'homme dans cet univers ? Est-il simplement un être intermédiaire entre l'ange et la bête ? En quoi se différencie-t-il des djinns, qui semblent être eux aussi des créatures de l'entre-deux ? À l'heure où certains fondamentalistes, au nom d'une lecture dévoyée de l'islam, considèrent les infidèles comme « pires que des bêtes » et se figurent réellement se hisser au niveau des anges tout en commettant des atrocités, cette synthèse savante et accessible de Pierre Lory fait le point sur cette anthropologie spirituelle de l'islam en se fondant sur les grands commentaires classiques du Coran et la tradition soufie d'Ibn 'Arabi.

Dignity --- Human-animal relationships --- Jinn. --- Religious aspects --- Islam. --- Dignité --- Relations homme-animal --- Djinn --- Aspect religieux --- Islam --- Man (Islam) --- Koran --- Angels --- Animals --- religious aspects --- Qur'an --- Homme (islam) --- Dignité humaine --- Anges --- Djinns. --- Créatures fabuleuses --- Dans le Coran. --- Dignity - religious aspects --- Angels - Islam --- Animals - Religious aspects - Islam