Jiří Dynda Gods and Demons: The Construction of the Slavic Paganism in the Medieval Textual Sources PhD Thesis, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Abstract The thesis focuses on the analysis of ways of discursive construction of Slavic paganism in medieval written sources. Three chapters attempt to answer the basic research question: how are the elements of Slavic paganism (and especially its concept of divinity) described before; shortly after; and long after Christianization. In other words, how paganism was portrayed as an active external enemy, as a defeated enemy, and as an internal enemy of medieval Christianity. The discourses analysis is applied to more than a dozen case studies of specific sources or their groups. These written sources are analysed also in comparison with other textual, archaeological and ethnographic sources. By thorough identification of several discursive strategies (idolatric, demonological, ortho-practical, euhemeristic and Graeco- Roman interpretation) in the sources the thesis is directed towards a detailed knowledge of the specifics of the Christian perspective (interpretatio Christiana) on the Slavic pagan religions. Thus, the thesis contributes to the possibilities of their understanding. In particular, the concept of divinity in functioning pagan societies in comparison...

Once upon a time there was an oasis kingdom called Kroraina. It was situated in what is today the Xinjiang-region in China. In 1901 approximately one thousand Kharosthi documents was discovered under the sand in the ruins of the ancient lost city of Niya, Kroraina. The documents and artefacts reveal the everyday life of inhabitants and religious syncretism, in about the 3rd and 4th centuries C.E. Niya was abandoned shortly after it peaked, and much of its history is still a mystery, likewise the story of its women. The aim of this thesis is to examine the status of women in Niya, both in local society and in religions. To achieve this, I use a theory of social constructionism and a method of content analysis with a gender perspective. In the study of Kharosthi documents and graves of female mummies I discovered a connection. The result shows that the former high status of women in religion and society was decreasing, and a lower status of woman was at the time for Buddhist establishing in Niya. The time of witches was gone. The time of monks was coming. But different kinds of male-dominant religions in this syncretistic landscape contributed to this decline for women. It doesn´t matter if she is a witch, a female slave or even a queen. Womens position in Niya was a mix; high and low at the same time, and sometimes almost invisible.

Text in Afrikaans / Die Baha'i-geloof is 'n nuwe onafhanklike wereldreligie en is redelik onbekend onder die bree Suid-Afrikaanse publiek. Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie (gebaseer op die fenomenologiese metode) het ten doel om die Baha'i-fenomeen op 'n nie-veroordelende wyse sander vooroordele te beskryf en om die Baha'is se eie Suid-Afrikaanse ervaring te registreer. Dit geskied eerstens deur 'n bespreking van die Baha'ise historiese gebeure (deel 1). Op hierdie wyse word die geloof in sy religieuse familiegroepering geplaas. Terselfdertyd verklaar hierdie deel die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van die Baha'i-geloof wereldwyd en in Suid-Afrika. Dit herdefinieer die verbondsgedagte en toon hoe Baha'is die eenheidsgedagte en die uitlewing van Baha 'u' llah se boodskap via die skepping van 'n Administratiewe orde vormgee. Sentrale Baha'i-konsepte (deel 2) aangaande die geestelike dimensie van die geloof word hierna aangestip. Dit word uitgebou met ongestruktureerde onderhoude met versigtig gekose deelnemers, waarin Baha'is dus self hul geloof in terme van die Baha'i-administrasie, wette, byeenkomste en bepalings, Godsbegrip en eskatologie sowel as hul antropologie en geskiedenis uitspel. Dit word ooreenkomstig die sentrale temas bespreek sodat 'n Baha'i-geheelbeeld gekonseptualiseer kan word. Dit word afgesluit met 'n bespreking van die Baha'i-wereldstaat as die vervulling van die profesie van die nuwe hemel en aarde. Verskeie gevolgtrekkings word uit hierdie data gemaak. Dit toon hoe die Baha'is Baha'u'llah se boodskap as sleutel gebruik sodat die moderne mens na die vestiging van 'n nuwe wereldkultuur gelei word. Hierdie strewe bekragtig die Baha'i-strategie en motto van eenheid in die verskeidenheid, en word as die oplossing vir die hedendaagse probleme van die moderne mens aangebied. Daar word dan met die Suid-Afrikaanse Baha'i-toekomsbeskouing afgesluit. / The Baha'i Faith is a new independent world religion and is vastly unknown to the South African public. The purpose of this qualitative research (based on the phenomenological method) is to describe the Baha'i phenomenon in an unbiased, non-judgemental way so that the own South African Baha'i experience is registered. The Baha'i history (part 1) is discussed first in order to place this faith in its own religious framework and to explain its origin and development worldwide as well as in South Africa. It establishes the message of the Covenant and shows how Baha'is are proclaming the unity idea and the message of Baha'u'llah via the establishment of the Administrative order. Central Baha'i concepts (part 2) concerning the spiritual dimension of the Baha'i faith are explored. It is expanded via unstructured interviews with carefully selected participants in order to let Baha'is explain their own administration, laws and regulations, concepts about God and their escatology as well as their anthropology and history. This is done in accordance to the central themes so that a total picture of Baha'i could be conceptualised. It ends with a discussion of the Baha'i worldstate as the fulfillment of the new heaven and earth prophecy. Different conclusions are made from these data. It shows how the Baha'is are using Baha'u'llah's message as the key in order to lead man to the establishment of a new modern world culture. This culture will be the fulfillment of the Baha'i strategy and motto of unity in diversity and serves as the Baha'i answer to the modern day problems. The thesis ends with the South African expectations of the future / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Th. (Religious Studies)

德教會為一個自1939年於中國潮汕傳至東南亞各國的一種教派的宗教團體，在新加坡、馬來西亞、印尼、香港、越南等國俱有屬於德教自身信仰體系的團體和信仰者存在。此宗教團體的派系計有紫、振、濟、贊化、明、緣等支系之分別，主要供奉的神明不分道佛，計有：觀音、關帝、濟公、太上老君和八仙等，其中心教義主要是以民間宗教信仰和儒、釋、道三教合一的思想與價值觀為其主幹。儘管德教所標榜的是五教（除了以上三教之外，另外兩個是基督教和伊斯蘭教）同宗且主張五教之間存在著互不相違悖的原則。本文以此宗教團體為研究對象，企圖去論述此信仰團體具備著特定的族群色彩之性質存在，在探索此信仰團體的性質、在馬來西亞當地的發展歷史過程同時，和它與當地海外華人社會的互動性關係，以進一步理解德教會此宗教組織為上述社群所帶來的若干意義性之存在，和在當地社會和特定社群當中所做出的貢獻和互動性關係。在釐清德教何以能夠在馬來西亞的華人和當地社會中以不同的程度在國內盛行及發展此關懷下，以東馬沙巴州斗湖的紫辰閣為例子，從觀察其組織、成員、模式和神學思想中去省討其在糾集當地華人之方法，思索和觀察其所主張的「五教同善」之號召下與所在的大環境之影響下所產生的因應變化及可能性，和達到跨越潮人省籍之社群和服務當地社會之目的。 / De-Jiao Hui, Moral Lifting Association（德教會）is a religious sect that origins from China, Teo-Chew（潮州） to South-eastern asia. Its believers and organizations spead to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. This sect separate with few branches. Their main worshipers are included Buddhism and Taoism deities. The belief which the Moral Uplifting Society composes with Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius. Although this association makes a syncretic faith called Five Traditions or Teachings share the same origin. The teaching is included religion of Islam and Christian, propaganda for others. Through this religious group and Che Hsing Khor Moral Uplifting Society（紫辰閣） in Tawau of Sabah, by the activities which their started and launched, trying to determine the reasons and methods of this belief association become popular and successfully attaching local believers in Malaysia. With the history and social factors of Malaysia, Moral Uplifting Association become a matchmaker between a different Chinese native province, professions, social status, educational background to gather their believers. It tried to attach not only the local Chinese society group but also obtained approving from the other ethnic community in that nation. Its believers take part in this belief group to share the same vision of future and the pursuit of harmony.

Dans cette étude, l’auteure décrit les relations entre des catholiques et des hindous chez les Tamouls originaires du Sri Lanka qui ont immigré à Montréal. Ce faisant, elle accentuera son étude sur les perspectives des catholiques tamouls, et ce particulièrement au cours de pèlerinages et à travers la dévotion mariale. Les relations entre catholiques et hindous sont ainsi codifiées par des normes sociales et culturelles. De plus, l’auteure démontre que la migration, de même que la société d’accueil, influence les interactions entre ces deux groupes. Dans ce contexte, la notion de syncrétisme devient un concept secondaire qui est principalement étudié en lien avec les normes sociales tamoules. Finalement, l’auteure démontre, à travers les pèlerinages et la dévotion mariale, que les catholiques entretiennent des rapports contradictoires avec les hindous. / In this study, the author discusses relations between Catholics and Hindus among Sri Lankan Tamils living in Montreal. By doing this, the author puts forward the prospects of Tamil Catholics through Catholic pilgrimages and Marian devotion. Thus, relations between Catholics and Hindus appear to be codified by social and cultural standards. Also, religious interactions seem to be transformed partly by migration and by the host society. In this context, « syncretism » becomes a secondary concept that is primarily studied in relations with Tamil social standards. Finally, through pilgrimages and Marian devotion, the author argues that Tamil Catholics maintain contradictory relations with Hindus.

I pull from what I see in my urban surroundings. There is always a sense of dread fused with optimism that prevails. Is it beautiful? Fragments of low-riders and tricked-out cars become symbols of desire and the glowing red lens of a stop light becomes a Cyclops poised to defend his garden. Candy-coated, blooming, dripping and seductively slick confronts you with the obvious warning: STOP! You could be next… …The grass really is greener on The Other Side of the Fence. At least until winter comes.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T19:34:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marilda.pdf: 21251034 bytes, checksum: fbb712788b37850e1480a3406e076ad8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study is developed in the field of discourse analysis of advertising and, since it has as theoretical referencIal the semiotics of A.J. Greimas and his disciples, focuses on the studies and semiolinguistic structures of syncretic texts of advertising whose codes are examined without their pre-existing meaning, but in the construction process of a semantic unit, in which the meaning of a language homologates that of another. The hypothesis stems from the multiculturalism that, promoting the homogenization of socio-cultural values, implies variety of products and above all, renewal of brand discourse. Corpus is constituted by advertisements of multinational companies in magazines for public with specific interests and its study aims at examining verbal-visual procedures that manifest brand interaction with such interests, according to three dimensions: pragmatic, passionate and cognitive. The analysis demonstrated that the hypotheses was confirmed, once the company diversified its products from 2003 on and above all, especially its advertising programming, creating specific texts for each target audience. However, its discourse privileged and identities pertaining to global culture, not local, since it explores the passions of man in general and examines them in view of the logic of transformations, tensions and knowledge, logic which punctuates the activities pertinent to the interests of readers of each magazine. The study evidenced few changes in linguistic structures focused on information nearly always objective and concise, but plenty of variety, originality and subtlety in the choice and combination of vision whose various resources, especially chromatic and topologic, (re)construct the verbal to reveal passions, (re)signify actions and euphemize desires / A pesquisa desenvolve-se no campo da análise do discurso publicitário e, tendo como referencial teórico a semiótica de A. J. Greimas e seus discípulos, centra-se no estudo das estruturas semiolingüísticas de textos sincréticos de anúncios, cujos códigos são examinados sem seu sentido preexistente, mas em processo de construção de uma unidade semântica, na qual o sentido de uma linguagem homologa o de outra. A hipótese origina-se no multiculturalismo que, promovendo a homogeneização de valores socioculturais, implica variedade de produtos e, sobretudo, renovação do discurso da marca. O corpus é constituído de anúncios de empresa multinacional em revistas para público com interesses específicos e seu estudo objetiva examinar os procedimentos verbo-visuais que manifestam a interação da marca com esses interesses, conforme três dimensões: pragmática, passional e cognitiva. A análise demonstrou que a hipótese foi confirmada, pois a empresa diversificou, a partir de 2003, seus produtos e, sobretudo, sua programação publicitária, criando textos específicos para cada público-alvo. Entretanto, seu discurso privilegiou imagens e identidades próprias da cultura global, mas não local, visto que explora as paixões do homem em geral e as examina segundo a lógica das transformações, tensões e conhecimento, lógica que pontua as atividades pertinentes aos interesses dos enunciatários de cada revista. O estudo evidenciou poucas mudanças nas estruturas lingüísticas, centradas em informações quase sempre objetivas e concisas, mas bastante diversidade, originalidade e sutileza na escolha e combinação do visual, cujos vários recursos, sobretudo, cromáticos e topológicos, (re)constroem semioticamente o verbal de modo a revelar paixões, (re)significar ações e eufemizar desejos

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T13:46:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CELIO DE PADUA GARCIA.pdf: 5178433 bytes, checksum: 99427d82cf6813da9342c6092a5f1b24 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-29 / The present study (thesis) has as main objective to analyze and understand the socio-cultural and religious influences arising from religions of African heritage on the Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD). Over recent years it has been observed significant changes in the Pentecostal ritualistic context, and specifically, Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, which began to use elements originating from African- Brazilian religions in its rites. By means of bibliographical, documentary and case study research, printed statements (flyers), regional and national coverage preaching and also excerpts from the book Orixás, Caboclos & Guias, Deuses ou Demônios? were analyzed with a focus on highlighting the use of elements from African religions, its appropriation and redefinition. This research has shown that antagonistically, at the same time that such items are used, they are also fought vehemently by supporters of African-Brazilian and mediunical religions. The process takes place in a hostile manner and among the doctrinal currents precipitating such a procedure it can be stress the spiritual war against the devil, which has emerged as a source of religious intolerance against African-Brazilian religions. It so happens that the IURD, beyond taking ownership of such elements, assign to them new meanings. Breaks out, thus, a new syncretic process that is stimulated by the religious nature of the discourses. Through the theoretical conceptions that come from Foucault efforts, an analysis of the discourses was arranged and have been noted that they stimulate spiritual barriers especially against Umbanda and Candomblé adherents. Meanwhile, to strengthen its discourses, IURD started to use up terms, elements, rites and expressions stemming religions of African heritage with the purpose of creating a point of contact with Brazilian popular belief. Allocating new meanings to religious elements, IURD has contributed to the repositioning of the black identity among its believers; but, at once, it seems that it also seeks to distort this same black identity in the religions of African-matrix, attributing to them negative facets, relating them to the devil, setting thus certain climate of religious intolerance between IURD and religions of African- matrices. It may be seen that the use of elements of the religion regarded as opposite and the redefinition of its major elements of identity is setting up a new syncretic process in the field of Brazilian religions. / A presente tese tem como objetivo geral analisar e compreender as influências socioculturais e religiosas provenientes das religiões de matrizes africanas sobre a Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD). Nos últimos anos, têm-se observado importantes mudanças ritualísticas no âmbito neopentecostal, em específico, na Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, que passou a utilizar elementos originários de religiões afro-brasileiras em seus rituais. Pesquisas bibliográficas, documentais, enunciados impressos (folhetos) pregações de abrangência regional e nacional, e trechos do livro Orixás, Caboclos & Guias, Deuses ou Demônios? , foram analisados com foco em destacar a utilização de elementos advindos de religiões africanas, sua apropriação e ressignificação pela IURD. A pesquisa mostrou que, de forma antagônica, ao mesmo tempo em que a IURD se utiliza de tais elementos, combate veementemente os adeptos de religiões afro-brasileiras e mediúnicas. Esse processo ocorre de forma hostil e dentre as correntes doutrinárias desencadeantes de tal processo pode-se enfatizar a Guerra espiritual contra o diabo, que tem se apresentado como uma fonte de intolerância religiosa contra religiões afrobrasileiras. Além de apropriar-se de tais elementos, a IURD passa a atribuir-lhes novos significados. Desencadeia-se, assim, um novo processo sincrético, estimulado por discursos religiosos. Por meio das concepções teóricas de Foucault, procedeuse uma análise do discurso e constatou-se a presença de elementos discursivos que estimulam entraves nas relações com determinados grupos religiosos, evidenciandose umbandistas e candomblecistas. Entrementes, para fortalecer seus discursos, criando um ponto de contato com a crença popular brasileira, a IURD passa a utilizar-se de termos, elementos, rituais e expressões encontradas nas religiões de matrizes africanas. Ao atribuir novos significados aos elementos religiosos, a IURD tem contribuído para reposicionar a identidade negra dentro da própria IURD, enquanto busca deturpar a identidade negra nas religiões de matriz afro-descentes, ao atribuir-lhes aspectos negativos relacionando-as com o diabo, estabelece, dessa forma, certo clima de intolerância religiosa entre a IURD e as religiões de matrizes afrodescendentes. A utilização dos elementos da religião tida como oposta e a ressignificação desses elementos passam a configurar um novo processo sincrético religioso.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T19:20:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gisele Nallini.pdf: 7549736 bytes, checksum: 616e854fe956ceae423268deedf357e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The following research embraces the concepts about syncretism by the religious and cultural approach, showing the construction of identity through metamorphosis and utopia as a source of choices based on desires. Beginning these investigation we can observe a parallelism of historicity of one of the icons from the Brazilian Theater the Associação Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona demonstrating its process of identity metamorphosis through utopias possibilities without losing sight of historical facts and the concepts about syncretism of what refer to its approach onto the religious and cultural experiences, build within its identity. Elements interculturally grounded and juxtaposed with the social history, politics and economy found between the years of 1958 and 1982. In the elapse of this historiographical path we face the formation of an esthetic that would become the boundary of staging of Oficina, with its biggest part based in the Greek theater and the creation of the tragedy and its founder god Dionysus. Bold esthetic and irreverent conception that includes the audience as an actor during the staging, at the same time as Zé Celso internalizes in front of its desires, in his repertory, the experiencing of languages that surpass the limits of creation, seeking relate in a permanent dialogue the performing arts, the music, the religion, the video and the cinema. Entanglements that made possible the conception of many DVDs preserving the group memory. We extracted the filmography of its performing from OS SERTõES, based on the literary work of Euclides da Cunha, adapted by Zé Celso, putting special attention to the DVD: O HOMEM II Da Revolta ao Trans-Homem, appointing new meanings of the experiences in the religious symbolic filed, cross-culturally composed in a specific scene the image kiss comparing to the classic Euclides da Cunha, Os Sertões / A presente pesquisa abarca os conceitos sobre sincretismo pelo viés religioso e cultural, apontando a construção da identidade via metamorfose e da utopia como fonte das escolhas pautada nos desejos. Partindo dessa investigação observamos um paralelismo da historicidade de um dos ícones do Teatro brasileiro a Associação Teatro Oficina Uzyna Uzona demonstrando seu processo de sua metamorfose identitária via possibilidades utópicas, sem perder de vista os acontecimentos históricos e os conceitos sobre sincretismo, no que se refere a abordagem das experiências religiosas e culturais, contidas na construção dessa identidade. Elementos interculturalmente alicerçados e justapostos com a história social, política e econômica encontrados entre os anos de 1958 a 1982. No decorrer deste percurso historiográfico nos deparamos com a constituição de uma estética que viria a ser um marco nas encenações do Oficina, pautados em grande parte no teatro grego com a criação da tragédia e de seu deus fundador Dioniso. Concepção estética ousada e irreverente, que inclui a plateia como atuador durante as encenações, ao mesmo tempo em que Zé Celso introjetava diante de seus desejos, em seu repertório, a experimentação de linguagens que ultrapassaram os limites da criação, buscando relacionar, em permanente diálogo, às artes cênicas, a música, a religião, o vídeo e o cinema. Entrelaçamentos que viabilizaram a concepção de diversos DVDs preservando a memória do grupo. Extraímos então a filmografia da encenação de OS SERTõES, baseado na obra de Euclides da Cunha, adaptada por Zé Celso, dando especial atenção ao DVD: O HOMEM II Da Revolta ao Trans-Homem, apontando ressignificações das experiências no campo simbólico religioso, inter-culturalmente constituídos em uma cena específica o beija das imagens comparando-a ao clássico de Euclides da Cunha, OS SERTÕES