This thesis explores the cult and mythos of the goddess Kali both in her Eastern and Western contexts, comparing and contrasting them in order to gain a better understanding of the Western appropriations of Kali within feminist goddess spirituality. Utilizing a variety of methods, including ethnographic research conducted at Kali temples in California, this research is aimed at providing an entry into the lived contemporary tradition of the Western Kali within goddess spirituality circles, focusing on embodied experience, devotion, ritual, and syncretic practices. Kali, a fierce Indian goddess, is often seen in the Hindu context as a central manifestation of the all encompassing Mother Goddess (Mahadevi, Devi, Shakti, etc), and therefore is a particularly engaging example of contemporary Western appropriation of religious and cultural symbols and narratives. This thesis contributes to understanding Kali in her new North American domain, as well as serving as a case study of the shifting religious landscape in the West.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_jose_carlos.pdf: 1723480 bytes, checksum: e9a07259f3b968397cf26f22323d7e68 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-03 / The study of religiosity and of religion in the feast is crucial to the understanding of myth,ritual and symbols inserted in devotion and promise to the saint, taking as inspiration the focus point of the rituals, especially the ritual procession, or even touring runs through the twenty-first century, even at such desecration. The purpose of this research is to reflect on the shifting ritual, different expressions such as gestures, silence, clothing characterized, objects, banners and sounds that are moving the close relations between the pilgrim (devout and/or curious) and the saint. To make this reflection based we decided to depart from a field research for five days, along with visitors, devotees promisers, trying to gather free and spontaneous information, adding to the bibliography, dealing with myth, ritual and symbols used by the walker in the procession of St. Lucy. The objective is to point the name of the various expressions of religious feast of the Patron Saint; to emphasize the importance of the rites as itinerant religious phenomenon in a secularizing society, reflecting the open air rite from a close relationship between the believer and the divine; to understand syncretism and the notion of sacred, using the methodology of participant observation on the feast of St. Lucy in Mossoró (RN) / O estudo da religiosidade e da religião na festa é fundamental para a compreensão do mito, rito e os símbolos inseridos na devoção e na promessa ao santo, tendo como inspiração pontual o foco dos rituais, especialmente o rito processional, ou seja, o itinerante que ainda perpassa o século XXI, mesmo diante de tanta dessacralização. O propósito desta pesquisa é refletir no ritual itinerante, diferentes expressões como gestos, silêncio, vestimentas caracterizadas, objetos, bandeiras e sons que se encontram movimentando as relações de proximidade entre o romeiro (devoto e/ou curioso) e o santo. Para tornar esta reflexão fundamentada, decidimos partir de uma pesquisa de campo, durante cinco dias, junto aos frequentadores, devotos promesseiros, tentando coletar informações livres e espontâneas, agregando-a ao material bibliográfico que trata do mito, rito e símbolos utilizados pelo caminheiro na procissão de Santa Luzia. O nosso objetivo é apontar as diversas expressões de religiosidade na festa da Santa Padroeira; pontuar a importância dos ritos itinerantes como fenômeno religioso numa sociedade secularizada; refletir o rito ao ar livre a partir de uma relação próxima entre o fiel e o divino; entender o sincretismo e a noção de sagrado, usando a metodologia da observação-participante , na tentativa de garantir a identidade e práticas sociorreligiosas na festa de Santa Luzia em Mossoró (RN)

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:12:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 iron_mendes_araujo_junior.pdf: 7621341 bytes, checksum: 9b49acecb23f2849136f53d0eb0fc1dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-11 / This paper analyzes the importance of some sacred sculptures, belonging to the Sacred Art Museum of Pernambuco - MASPE as well as some parts of Olinda's historical site Churches, as objects that shelter in their relevant elements symbols for the historical understanding of religious formation and Brazilian culture. Therefore, we reassemble the formation of Brazilian Catholicism that makes up part of the national culture through historical research. To contextualize the historical component resort to authors who reflect on the formation of Catholicism and, consequently, the Church in Brazil, because to understand the sculptures had to first understand the historical process where they were built. After the historical reconstruction, we analyze the elements, cultural - symbolic, which summarized the socio-cultural and devotional extracts resplendent in pieces, trying to thus demonstrate the importance of this heritage, which make up part of Brazilian cultural identity. / Este trabalho analisa a importância de algumas esculturas sacras, pertencentes ao Museu de Arte Sacra de Pernambuco MASPE, bem como algumas peças de Igrejas do sítio histórico de Olinda, como objetos que resguardam em seus símbolos elementos de relevância para a compreensão histórica da formação religiosa e cultural brasileira. Para tanto, remontamos a formação do catolicismo brasileiro que compõe parte da cultura nacional, através da investigação histórica. Para contextualizarmos o componente histórico recorremos a autores que refletem, sobre a formação do catolicismo e, consequentemente, da Igreja no Brasil, pois para compreendermos as esculturas tivemos que primeiro entender o processo histórico onde as mesmas foram construídas. Após a reconstrução histórica, buscamos analisar os elementos, culturais simbólicos, que sintetizaram os extratos socioculturais e devocionais resplandecente nas peças, tentando, assim, demonstrar a importância desse patrimônio histórico, que compõem parte da identidade cultural brasileira.

The diploma thesis on the topic "Spirituality of Young Romanies" disserts on spirituality amongst them. The spirituality is pursued in general and its levels, possibilities of saturation and ties to institutions are comprised. A chapter describing the history of the Romanies and phenomena associated with the spirituality of the Romanies is included. The aim of the thesis is to find out whether the phenomena are still relevant in connection with Romany religiosity and whether they differ in the Ústí nad Labem Region and in the East of Slovakia, where these traditions are still represented in the majority society. In my theses I also trace whether there is syncretism. For the practical part, I have chosen quantitative research with the technique of a questionnaire survey.

This doctoral thesis discusses the manifestations of animism among Khmers in Cambodia and in south Vietnam. The subject is viewed from the culturally-anthropological perspective and attention is paid primarily to the specifics that are present in the everyday life of Khmers. The paper characterizes the manifestations of animism within the scope of the selected hypotheses and perceives this topic through various ethnological paradigms. The doctoral thesis marginally introduces animism as a phenomenon, the Khmer as a people, animistic rituals, and traditional Khmer feasts. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the importance of the shaman and other spiritual figures in the Khmer religious conception, the topic of healing, rites of passage, specific Khmer supernatural entities, and places where they are worshipped. The entire thesis includes the comparison of theoretical knowledge with the results of empirical research in selected areas. Using specific examples, it is demonstrated that animism is a part of syncretism, which is still an important component of the Khmer culture and significantly influences important life decisions. Rather than a unified discourse that would strictly subscribe to linear composition, the doctoral thesis is a prolegomenon to the phenomenon of animism in the Khmer culture and...

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The research was carried out to show the potential consequences of the conversion of indigenous peoples in Bolivia to Pentecostalism. The research was based on a research conducted by Canessa in 2000 on two movements already taking place at the time of his research, the rise of Indigeonus recognition in society and the rise of Pentecostalism. The results show how these phenomena have developed in Bolivia since 2000, during which Bolivia, for example, had its first Indigeonus president, Evo Morales, who led the country between 2006 and 2019, and Bolivia went through a coup d'état in which the new president, Jeanine Áñez, representing the right, associated the Bible with the mestizos and spread hatred of the Indigeonus beliefs.  Religious conversions from Catholicism / Pachamama to Pentecostalism in relation to decolonization and in- and out-group associations were investigated. The research was written with a narrative research design, in which I interviewed Pentecostal pastors who worked in La Paz and in the rural area of Quellani outside the predominantly indigenous El Alto, as well as an indigenous person who had converted to Pentecostalism. Likewise, my observations were included, mainly on Pentecostal services in La Paz and Quellani, as well as on comparisons of Catholic churches in Cochabamba and Copacabana. The observations suggest interpretations of the situation as an outsider, a Western scholar.  The indigenous beliefs are commonly referred to as Madre Tierra "mother earth" or Pachamama. During colonization, however, the Spaniards came with Catholicism, and since then, indigenous beliefs and Catholicism have been syncretized and incorporated into the beliefs of Bolivians, including many indigenous peoples. Catholicism / Pachamama's religious activities are also essential for Bolivia's culture and national identity.  However, since the other half of the twentieth century, many Bolivians, also indigenous, have converted to Pentecostalism, although Indigeonus are fighting for decolonization, and Pentecostalism is less accepting of adherents who preserve cultural and religious parts of indigenous peoples. Alcohol consumption, for example, is an essential part of the religion and culture of the indigenous people, accepted within Catholicism, and prohibited within Pentecostalism. In addition, the Pentecostals pride themselves on following the Bible and not displaying "contradictory behavior". 3 The theory of in and out-group was applied, as it was considered a relevant identity theory. The identity of the Pentecostals seems to correlate with a particular perception of Catholics. I have observed it as an inferior relationship to the Catholics, who often include indigenous beliefs, represent the largest number of believers in Bolivia, are deeply intertwined in Bolivia's culture and history, and earlier the only officially accepted religion.  The results showed that indigenous peoples can gain several benefits by converting to Pentecostalism, including improved status and perceived new possibilities, a new community, and a path to decolonization from the Catholicism associated with colonization. Some elements of their indigenous background can be preserved, including their clothing and language. However, they will have to give up certain traditions related to indigenous beliefs, as they are more syncretized with Catholicism, including alcohol, and relationships are often affected. Perceived positive effects may depend on whether others convert with them, although the Pentecostal community offers a much more personal and intimate community than Catholicism.

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Text in Afrikaans / Summary in Afrikaans and English / This study is an attempt to analyse and describe syncretism as an encompassing phenomenon from a historical-educational perspective. In recent times, the ideas of globalization, the influence of modern science, as well as certain ideas concerning modern education, are closely related to the manifestation of syncretism. A study of various exemplars from the past and present disclosed the essences of syncretism, thus unveiling the religious growth-motives that underlie syncretism, which also played an important role in the development of Western civilization and the modem world. The multi-faith idea (the idea of unity and synthesis), the idea of secularization, and the idea of relativity, were identified as prominent characteristics of syncretism. The identification and analysis of the essences of syncretism and supporting religious principles. become possible when syncretism is set in opposition to the Biblical and reformational thought processes. Bible-based education provides an alternative to syncretism in a fast changing and post-modern world. It gives perspective on the instruction to people to care for and develop God's creation. The intrinsic characteristics of Bible-based education were used as evaluation criteria in an attempt to expose syncretism. The characteristics of Bible-based education which also provide a framework for establishing a corrective to the problematic educational situation, are the following: • the acknowledgement of the Holy Trinity as central to man's existence; • the Bible/Holy Scriptures as essential for a Christian world and life view; • the essence of a Christian anthropology; • education as the fulfilment of God's covenant with man; • the directive role of Bible-based norms; • the transfer of culture through education • Biblical cosmology as an expression of the Christian faith; • the reformational aspect of Bible-based education. In the evaluation of syncretism, it was discovered that the relationship between man and the Holy Trinity would be negatively affected if the Christian religion were not regarded as the only source of truth concerning the salvation of man and the true meaning of life. The influence of syncretism necessitates a reformational and antithetical approach, which constantly emphasises the importance of the educator's role in the teaching and education of the child in the modem educational system. / In hierdie studie word gepoog om die sinkretisme as omvattende verskynsel vanuit 'n histories-opvoedkundige perspektief te ontleed en te omskryf. Die globaliseringsverskynsel, die inwerking van die modeme wetenskap en bepaalde idees in die moderne onderwys hang saam met die manifestasie van die sinkretisme in die eietyd. In 'n eksemplariese verlede- en eietydse studie is grondig ondersoek ingestel na tendense en verskynsels wat die wesenlike van die sinkretisme openbaar. Religieuse grondmotiewe in die Westerse beskawingsontwikkeling het 'n wesenlike bydrae gelewer tot die opkoms van die sinkretisme van die moderne wereld. Die wesenskenmerke wat prominent in die eksemplariese ondersoek betreffende die realisering van die sinkretisme gemanifesteer het, was die multireligieuse/intergeloofsidee en sintesedenke (eenheidsidee), die sekulariseringsverskynsel en die relatiwiteitsverskynsel. Die identifisering en ontleding van die wesenskenmerke van die sinkretisme en ondersteunende religieuse grondmotiewe word moontlik indien die sinkretisme teenoor die Bybelse en reformatoriese denkhouding gestel word. Bybelgefundeerde onderwys bied 'n altematief vir die sinkretisme in 'n snel veranderende en postmodeme wereld en gee perspektief aan die mens se beheersingsopdrag in die skeppingswerklikheid. Die wesenskenmerke van Bybelgefundeerde onderwys is as evalueringskriteria aangewend in 'n poging om die sinkretisme in sy ware gedaante te ontbloot. Die wesenskenmerke wat terselfdertyd die raamwerk vir die daarstel van 'n korrektief vir die problematiese onderwyssituasie bied, is: • God Drie-enig as sentrale uitgangspunt; • die Bybel/Heilige Skrif as essensieel vir 'n Christelike lewens en wereldbeskouing; • die Christelike mensbeeld (antropologie) as voorwaarde vir Bybel-gefundeerde onderwys • onderwys en opvoeding as die bevestiging van God se verbond met die mens; • die rigtinggewende rol van Bybelgefundeerde norme; • kultuuroordrag en Bybelgefundeerde onderwys; • die Bybelse skeppingsleer as 'n uitdrukking van die Christelike geioof; • die refonnatoriese/gereformeerde inslag van Bybelgefundeerde onder­wys In die evaluering van die sinkretisme is bevind dat die mens se grondverhouding met God Drie-enig aangetas word indien die Christelike godsdiens nie as die enigste bron van waarheid betreffende die mens se redding en toekomsverwagting beskou word nie. Die inwerking van die sinkretisme noodsaak in die moderne onderwyssisteem 'n reformatoriese en antitetiese denkhouding wat die mens deurlopend opskerp ten opsigte van sy rol as opvoeder in die opvoeding en onderwys van die kind. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (History of Education)