Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

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.

No description available.

Thesis--Bonn. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 389-444).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1992. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 443-456).

Thesis (doctoral)--Augsburg, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [318]-328) and index.

Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Paraná / Investigações etnográficas imergidas no contexto do Terceiro Mundo exploraram diferentes e diversas práticas de pensar, irmanar, experimentar e codificar dimensões biológicas e naturais. Entre os diversos agregados sociais que se mobilizam no mundo por meio de racionalidades contra-hegemônicas, os cultos afro-brasileiros foram anunciados como religiosidades múltiplas, de grande importância ecológica e revestidos de conexões com os mais diversos e contraditórios actantes do cosmo, que resistem no Terceiro Mundo, com suas subjetividades descolonizadoras que se multiplicam em cada local de culto. Nesta conjuntura, esta pesquisa foi efetuada junto ao Centro Espírita de Umbanda Abaça de Oxalá, tendo por objetivo analisar a rede que se conforma nas inter-relações entre seres humanos/divindades/natureza. A Teoria Ator-Rede tal como apresentada por Latour (1994; 2004; 2012) forneceu ferramentas para que uma etnografia adequada à realidade deste terreiro fosse elaborada, expandindo o número de atores ocultos que se relacionam, agem e falam. Assim, durante o período de 19 meses a pesquisa foi operacionalizada por mediação da técnica Observação Participante, a partir de anotações no diário de campo, fotografias, transcrições de entrevistas e desenhos. A forma dos registros se desenvolveram na análise documental, através das anotações no próprio material analisado, objetivando engendrar um relato Ator-Rede para desdobrar um maior número de atores, mediadores e controvérsias que se conectam às práticas associadas as relações entre seres humanos/divindades/natureza no Abaça de Oxalá. Os humanos que configuram o local são caracterizados pelo pai-de-santo, filhos-de-corrente e clientes, que tecem relações com os Orixás em diferentes estratos e níveis de comprometimento com as normativas locais, almejando favores espirituais a partir de suas motivações subjetivas, as quais incluem as esferas da saudabilidade, das questões afetivos-familiares, da prosperidade financeira e desenvolvimento espiritual (no caso dos filhos-de-corrente). Os favores dos Orixás são logrados a partir de um rico e complexo regime de permutas, que permite agenciar lugares da natureza (pontos-de-força), elementos naturais (vegetação, minerais), alimentos, fogo, água, e múltiplos elementos que são relativos à subjetividade de cada humano conectado na rede, que emergem na forma de oferendas, chás medicinais, banhos de ervas, defumações, etc. Estas permutas são subsidiadas por um arcabouço de conhecimentos sobre suas naturezas, especificidades, associações e ações. Estes saberes são indissociáveis dos fazeres, e sua fonte primordial são os Orixás. A partir destes saberes foi possível identificar um total de 159 entidades espirituais mobilizadas nos discursos e atividades do terreiro e 140 vegetais empregados para as mais diversas finalidades que os humanos necessitam. O processamento das atividades ritualísticas no contexto religioso afro-brasileiro remete a uma realidade complexa, engendrada pelas profundas intersecções entre as esferas do mundo social, sobrenatural e natural. O conceito êmico de energia se mostra substancial para que tais conexões emerjam e ajam no cotidiano do terreiro, pois o Orixá é energia e se conecta com a energia dos humanos e da natureza para que transformações no mundo real sejam engendradas. / Ethnographic research immersed in the context of the Third World explored different and diverse practices of thinking, brotherhood, experimenting and codifying biological and natural dimensions. Among the various social aggregates mobilized around the world through counter-hegemonic rationalities, Afro-Brazilian cults were announced as multiple religiosities of great ecological importance and with connections with the most diverse and contradictory actants of the cosmos. They resist in the Third World, with its decolonizing subjectivities that multiply in each place of worship. At this juncture, this research was carried out with the Spiritist Center of Umbanda Abaça de Oxalá, aiming to analyze the network that is formed in the interrelations between humans / divinities / nature. The Actor-Network Theory as presented by Latour (1994, 2004, 2012) provided tools for an ethnography appropriate to the reality of this terreiro to be elaborated, expanding the number of hidden actors who relate, act and speak. Thus, during the 19 month period, the research was operationalized by means of the Participatory Observer technique, based on field diary annotations, photographs, transcripts of interviews and drawings. The form of the records was developed in the documentary analysis, through the annotations in the material analyzed. The aiming was to generate an actor-network account to unfold a greater number of actors, mediators and controversies that connect to the practices associated with the relations between human /divinities / nature in the Abaca de Oxalá. The humans that make up the place are characterized by the “pai de santo”, “filhos de corrente” and clients. They interact with the Orixás in different strata and levels of commitment to local norms, seeking spiritual favors from their subjective motivations, which include the spheres of health, affective-family issues, financial prosperity and spiritual development (in the case of filhos de corrente). The favors of the Orixás are obtained from a rich and complex regime of exchanges, which allows to place places of nature (points of force), natural elements (vegetation, minerals), food, fire, water, and multiple elements that are relative to the subjectivity of each human connected in the net, that emerge in the form of offerings, medicinal teas, herbal baths, smokes, etc. These exchanges are subsidized by a framework of knowledge about their natures, specificities, associations and actions. These knowledges are inseparable from doings, and their primary source is the Orixas. From these knowledge, it was possible to identify a total of 159 spiritual entities mobilized in the discourses and activities of the terreiro and 140 vegetables used for the most diverse purposes that humans need. The processing of ritualistic activities in the Afro-Brazilian religious context, refers to a complex reality engendered by the deep intersections between the spheres of the social, supernatural and natural world. The emic concept of energy proves substantial for such connections to emerge and act in the daily life of the terreiro, because the Orixá is energy and connects with the energy of humans and nature so that transformations in the real world are engendered.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 286-290).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 286-290).