Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Philosophy, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 406-412).

Modern evolutionary science has brought a sharp focus to bear on the problem of evil, and especially of natural evil and suffering in the natural world. Moreover, I believe that contemporary theodicy may benefit from engagement with the East Asian religion, Daoism. Therefore, I will comparatively examine the work of the evolutionary theodicy of Haught and the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi. I will not cover all of the thought of Haught and Zhuangzi, but instead I will focus on their ideas concerning the problem of evil, and develop them in harmony with evolutionary science. In order to do this comparative study, I will suggest the necessity of a new methodology, and propose five steps for the comparative work between religion and science and between Christianity and Daoism: description, comparison, generalisation, differentiation and supplementation. Based on this methodology, I will generalise the ideas of Haught and Zhuangzi on evil into seven different theodicies (the natural state defence, the free action defence, the suffering God defence, the hidden God defence, the harmony defence, the progress defence, and the final fulfilment defence). I will then supplement the evolutionary theodicy of Haught with the Daoist ideas of Zhuangzi on the basis of their differences. The main aim of this study is to develop Christian theodicies to inform both the West and the East in a scientific age by comparing the evolutionary theology of Haught and the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi. I will suggest that Western evolutionary theodicies would benefit from engagement with the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi, and that the evolutionary theodicy of John Haught might be of benefit in an Asian Christian context. I also expect that the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi can be seen in a new light through conversation with the evolutionary theology of Haught and evolutionary science generally. I hope that this thesis can be a catalyst for comparative study between religion and science and between Christianity and Daoism.

abstract: This dissertation examines lexical and phonetic variations between Daigi, Hakka, and Modern Standard Chinese elements as used in two Daoist temples of southern Taiwan, the Daode Yuan (DDY) and Yimin Miao (YMM) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, which form linguistic repertoires from which religious communities construct language variants called religiolects. Specific variations in the use of these repertoires appear to be linked to specific religious thought processes. Among my results, one finds that phonetic features of Daigi and Hakka appear linked to the use of language in religious contexts at the DDY and YMM, especially such that alterations in pronunciation, which would otherwise be inappropriate, are linked to speakers of the religiolects processing and producing religious thought in ways they otherwise would not. For example, what would normally be pronounced [tʰe laɪ] internal to one's body would be archaicized as [tʰe lue], from frequent contact with [lue tan] inner alchemy; this leads to reinforced conception of the inner body as sacred space. One also finds that semantic features of lexical items received sacralized contours in overt and non-overt ways, such that lexical items that would otherwise be irreligious become religious in nature; e.g., instances of the appearance of 道, especially in binomial items, would be resolved or parsed by reference to the sacred meaning of the word (such as the [to] in [tsui to tsui], which normally means having its source in, coming to be associated with 道 as path from sacred font). / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Religious Studies 2015

No description available.

This study seeks to explore how Swedish textbooks in religion for upper secondary school presents East Asian teachings. The main focus will be on Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto. The aim is to explore how textbook authors relate to the Western concept of reli-gion when they describe the three East Asian teachings. Where do the authors choose to put the most emphasis when the coverage of the textbooks is limited? The study is done by qualitative text analysis as method. The theoretical perspective used is primarily critical religion theory. Five textbooks of religion for upper secondary school were studied and show in the results the different themes found in the texts regarding East Asian teachings. The analysis shows that Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto are presented in the textbooks as something different compared to the world religions. Occasionally the three teachings are portrayed as obsolete. By using a critical religion theory, it seems that the textbook authors were occasionally trying to fit in the teachings as sui generis religion. The authors seem to be aware that religious practice can be different in East Asia than it is generally done in the west. This study should be of help to Swedish religion studies teachers when educating in the subject. It is easy to fall into the trap of explaining foreign teachings through sui generis religion. By being critical before deciding to make use of Swedish textbooks in religion we can avoid reproducing unfair notations of East Asian teachings.

This thesis introduces and reflects on a design proposal, Naturally Artificial, which explores the nature-culture and human-environment relationship through Daoism and the concept of life-world. By embracing the vagueness within the relationship, it is an attempt to focus more on the present, before setting up a future scenario.   It is natural for humans to produce the artificial. Human activities leave traces on the Earth, which becomes deeply implanted in the space that we live in. Daoism suggests to focus on the present which is a complex flow that is producing patterns of humans. With the concept of life-world, human life; activities, emotions, etc, are invited to the center of the discussion. Through a designerly method, is it possible to notice and embrace the complex blend between nature and culture? How could design contribute to understand and feel the reality of the present, instead of guessing and speculating the future?   Pixels of Shadows is one part of the design program Naturally Artificial. It is an experience design installation, which is a wall of light showing constantly moving patterns of shadows. Unlike many interaction design projects or media art projects, East-Asian concepts and formgiving languages are used to test the possibility of a local originality within the Western-based discipline. Instead of LED screens and glossy surfaces, softer materials such as handcrafted paper and wood is used for the front screen. A Korean concept within traditional architectures, to be in harmony and connection with nature and the environment is the core of the design concept and visual language.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’analyser une vaste collection de textes rituels taoïstes, le Guangcheng yizhi, qui a été compilé dans la province du Sichuan au 18e siècle. Cette collection est le fondement d’une tradition liturgique locale toujours vivante. La thèse aborde cette collection à la fois par une approche historique, en donnant le contexte social et religieux et en retraçant le processus de la compilation, de l’impression et de la diffusion, et par une approche de travail sur le terrain pour comprendre sa mise en pratique. Les deux premiers chapitres introduisent l’histoire du taoïsme au Sichuan depuis la dynastie des Qing jusqu’aujourd’hui, et plus précisément l’histoire textuelle du Guangcheng yizhi. Les chapitres suivants développent l’analyse de la tradition Guangcheng en développant la notion de "taoïste Guangcheng", et en explorant la typologie et la structure de ses rituels. Il s’intéresse à la construction d’un grand rituel par la combinaison de rites indépendants, et ce que ce processus nous apprend de la carte mentale que les taoïstes Guangcheng ont du répertoire de leur tradition. Enfin, le chapitre 6 développe le cas des rituels de repaiement de la dette de vie (huanshousheng) dans la tradition Guangcheng. / The basic theme of this dissertation is to understand a large collection of Taoist ritual texts from Sichuan, Guangcheng yizhi, first compiled in the 18th century and forming the basis of a living local ritual tradition. The dissertation uses both the historical approach (looking at the history of compiling, printing and using the collection) and fieldwork. The first two chapters introduce the history of Taoism in Sichuan since the Qing dynasty, and of the Guangcheng texts in particular. Then it explores the Guangcheng tradition developing notions such as “Guangcheng Taoist”, and the structure and typology of rituals. It analyses the building of a grand ritual and its “rundown” made of many smaller rites; this sheds light on the mental map of Taoists as they appropriate the shared ritual repertoire of their tradition. Finally chapter 6 analyses the ritual of repayment of life debt (huanshousheng) in the Guangcheng tradition.

abstract: Religions, following Max Müller, have often been seen by scholars in religious studies as uniform collections of beliefs and practices encoded in stable “sacred books” that direct the conduct of religious actors. These texts were the chief focus of academic students of religion through much of the 20th century, and this approach remains strong in the 21st. However, a growing chorus of dissidents has begun to focus on the lived experience of practitioners and the material objects that structure that experience, and some textual scholars have begun extending this materialist framework to the study of texts. This dissertation is a contribution in that vein from the field of Daoist studies. Now split between two separate texts, the Most High Scripture of the Rectifying Methods of the Three Heavens began as a 4th-century collection of apocalyptic predictions and apotropaic devices designed to deliver a select group of Chinese literati to the heavens of Highest Clarity. Later editors during the early medieval period (ca. 220-589 CE) took one of two paths: for their own reasons, they altered the Rectifying Methods to emphasize either the world’s end or its continuation. Detailed study of these alterations and their contexts shows how individuals and groups used and modified the Rectifying Methods in in ways that challenge the conventional relationship between religious text and religious actor. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Religious Studies 2019

本論文共約十萬字，主要在探討宜蘭市道廟的管理組織，並從分析宜蘭市道廟的特性、管理組織型態、負責人特徵等十八個變項，了解全市道廟的概況，進一步在擇取六座道廟，針對廟的特性、管理組織的脈絡結構等變項，進行相關的文獻搜集與田野調查。最後，研究者將各廟之各變項及其結構、運作的程度，分別列表比較，並做成各廟組織系統表。 本研究發現，宜蘭市的道廟普遍未將祭祀圈分區及設分區信徒，觀光型的廟較少，廟平時與外界及道教會的交流也不多；另外，廟奉祀的主神與廟之經費來源也與過去學者於其它地區的研究不同，是為宜蘭市道廟的特色。而廟的管理組織方面，組織型態今多為管理委員會，型態的變遷則多因為重建或重修。組織負責人的選擇考量要件為其個人經歷及其廟務熟悉的程度，且組織負責人個人之特質、觀念對組織之結構、脈絡、運行方式權力分配等均有相當之影響力，因此各廟管理組織之大小、分組狀況，與各廟信徒人數、組織之興辦事業，及主委均有關係。而在組織的運作上，各廟對內功能均較對外功能彰顯。 研究者最後並提出建議，希望各廟能相互擷長補短，多促進委員及委員與信徒間之接觸，並可加入同一主神之聯誼會、或者主動向傳播媒體、社會大眾告知其活動的消息，以提升管理組織之運作效率，並適時得到需要之資源。在政府方面則應避免相關法令規定陳義過高及申報之手續過程太複雜，主管單位於能力可及範圍內應主動提供各寺廟管理必要之援助，並深入瞭解管理組織運作不佳之原因，以發揮管理組織之功效。

Šiame darbe nagrinėjamos klasikinio daoizmo filosofijos iškeltos idealios asmenybės savybės. Šiame tyrime remiamasi geriausių Rusijos sinologų veikalais, taip pat daoizmo pradininkų vertimais į lietuvių kalbą, lietuvių daoizmo tyrinėtojais. / In this master's paper are ivestigated the features of ideal person in the philosophy of classical daoism. This paper is based on the analysis of the best works of russian synologists and the lithuanian translation of daosim ancestors works, also on the analysis of the works of lithuanian imvestigators in daoism philosophy.