“Finding the Promised Land: The Evolution of ‘Paradise City’” examines the development of Alisha Brophy’s television pilot, “Paradise City,” and the personal changes that have resulted from her involvement in this project. / text

Inaug.-diss.--Tübingen. / Lebenslauf. Bibliography: p. 4-6.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2009. / Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until June 1, 2014. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-111)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until June 1, 2014. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-111)

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences / Department of History

Guanyin Who Brings Sons usually represented as a white-robed lady carrying a baby in her arms, is a famous goddess specializing in granting sons widely worshiped in China. Developed from a promise of Guanyin to bring children to people in the "Universal Gateway" chapter of Lotus Sutra, a significant scripture promoting Guanyin belief, she is not an independent deity different from Guanyin, the Bodhisattva Avalokitasvara or the Goddess of Mercy in Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Personalizing and embodying Guanyin's power of bringing children, she is one form of Guanyin's various manifestations. The establishment of the cult of Guanyin Who Brings Sons in China has a long history, which was closely associated with the development of Guanyin worship in China. Having the same Buddhist background as Guanyin, Guanyin Who Brings Sons experienced the same Chinese transformation as Guanyin did in her development in China. The Chinese transformation of Guanyin occurred under the impact of Chinese traditional culture, social values and indigenous religions after the worship of her had been introduced to China. The result of it is to make her widely accepted by the Chinese and to be deemed as a deity with Chinese characteristics. As a manifestation of Guanyin, Guanyin Who Brings Sons was also syncretized with Chinese culture and gained her Chinese image during the transformation. The Sinicized cult of Guanyin Who Brings Sons had different belief dimensions, which can be basically divided into orthodox Buddhism and folk Buddhism. Moreover, her duty was no longer confined to the function of granting sons. She was charged with the responsibilities concerning childbirth and childcare to become the patron of women and children. The objective of this thesis is not only to draw a sketch of the development of this cult in China from miracle tales, indigenous scriptures, scholars' field reports and other historical materials, but also to explore the different belief dimensions of this cult and compare the roles of Guanyin Who Brings Sons in these dimensions, in order to investigate the Chinese transformation reflected in them.

No description available.

Spirit cults constitute an important element of Brazilian society. One of these, Umbanda, has in recent decades achieved prominence nationally. A historical survey of cult groups in Manaus shows that although they have always been in a state of change, they have recently been experiencing a period of accelerated transformation under the influence of Umbanda. This study documents the development of Umbanda in Manaus. / This is done in two steps. First, by analyzing the history of Umbanda it becomes evident that it has not only amalgamated a number of religious traditions, but still today continues to encompass numerous regional cults. Several authors suggest that urbanization and industrialization have advanced the spread of Umbanda. This thesis shows that while this is indeed the case, the integration of Umbanda beliefs and practices into the cult life of the region is effected by a particular form of mediumistic trance. / As a second step, an analysis of trance as a dynamic feature of Umbanda reveals how this occurs. The trance forms the pivotal point of communicative events in Umbanda; it gives rise to a special form of leadership based on the communications of the spirits and which functions through a medium's or leader's manipulation of "public" (generally accepted) and "private" (personal) elements of cult knowledge. Because it gives a central position to innovation and individual elaboration, the Umbanda trance form allows full freedom for the incorporation of practices from local cult groups. The resulting process of mutual assimilation between regional cults and Umbanda holds implications for cultists both as individuals and as members of a socio-economic group.

Thèse--Faculté des lettres de Paris. / "Titulus tumuli ad Nemroud-Dagh reperti": p. [133]-141.

Inaug.-diss.--Tübingen. / Lebenslauf. Bibliography: p. 4-6.