Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

At a religion's margins a counterpoint can be found for its power center. In a creative manner, relatively free from clerical control, religious virtuosos take new initiatives there. Inspired by their experience with the sacred, they explore their liberty to play with meanings, images and practices. Yet, the eventual success of such an innovation calls for organization and thus for the exercise of power. Accordingly new movements slow down into institutions - till a new virtuoso brings the cycle to a fresh start. Over the last thirty years André Droogers has extensively published on the relation between religion, power and play. In this collection of essays the most relevant articles are reprinted. For this volume Droogers wrote an autobiographical introduction, showing how the contingencies of a career may nevertheless lead to a more or less consistent approach. In Part I of the book articles are included that represent the basic ideas of Droogers' approach, with an emphasis on margin, inversion, ritual and meaning-making. In part II some of his articles on syncretism and Pentecostalism illustrate his views. Part III contains articles that apply the play-and-power perspective to methodological issues in the study of religion.

Play --- Power (Social sciences) --- Anthropology of religion. --- Religious anthropology --- Ethnology --- Empowerment (Social sciences) --- Political power --- Exchange theory (Sociology) --- Political science --- Social sciences --- Sociology --- Consensus (Social sciences) --- Play (in religion, folklore, etc.) --- Religious aspects. --- Play - Religious aspects --- Anthropology of religion --- 291 --- Religious aspects --- Godsdienstwetenschap: vergelijkend --- Marginality. --- Play. --- Power. --- Study of Religion.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

The origins of religion and ritual in humans have been the focus of centuries of thought in archaeology, anthropology, theology, evolutionary psychology and more. Play and ritual have many aspects in common, and ritual is a key component of the early cult practices that underlie the religious systems of societies in all parts of the world. This book examines the formative cults and the roots of religious practice from the earliest times until the development of early religion in the Near East, in China, in Peru, in Mesoamerica and beyond. Here, leading prehistorians, biologists, and other specialists bring a fresh approach to the early practices that underlie the faiths and religions of the world. They demonstrate the profound role of play ritual and belief systems and offer powerful new insights into the emergence of early societies.

Evolution. --- Ritual. --- Cult --- Cultus --- Liturgies --- Public worship --- Symbolism --- Worship --- Rites and ceremonies --- Ritualism --- Philosophy --- Creation --- Emergence (Philosophy) --- Teleology --- Ritual --- Rites and ceremonies, Prehistoric. --- Play --- Prehistoric peoples --- History. --- Religious aspects. --- Social life and customs. --- Cavemen (Prehistoric peoples) --- Early man --- Man, Prehistoric --- Prehistoric archaeology --- Prehistoric human beings --- Prehistoric humans --- Prehistory --- Human beings --- Antiquities, Prehistoric --- Play (in religion, folklore, etc.) --- Recreations --- Recreation --- Amusements --- Games --- Prehistoric rites and ceremonies --- Primitive societies --- Rites and ceremonies, Prehistoric --- History --- Religious aspects --- Social life and customs