Spirit Possession and Trance
New Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Published on 24. March 2010
Book
Hardback
258 pages
978-0-8264-3574-3 (ISBN)
Description
Key Concepts in Philosophy is a series of concise, accessible and engaging introductions to the core ideas and subjects encountered in the study of philosophy. Specially written to meet the needs of students and those with an interest in, but little prior knowledge of, philosophy, these books open up fascinating, yet sometimes difficult ideas. The series builds to give a solid grounding in philosophy and each book is also ideal as a companion to further study. The philosophy of mind - inquiry into just what the mind is and the nature of its relationship to the body - is one of Western philosophy's focal points. This is a comprehensive, clear and authoritative guide to the subject's history, its key themes and concepts, and those philosophers who have most influenced it, aimed at students encountering the discipline for the first time. The text illustrates the importance of the concept of mind in defining what it is to be human; this unifies the discussion and analysis of specific topics. Having outlined the major traditional accounts of the nature of the mind in western philosophy, the book goes on to examine such important concepts as subjectivity, intentionality and behaviour.
The book also explores how far the concept of mind can be extended to animals and machines, such as computers and robots. Philosophy undergraduates will find this an invaluable aid to study, one that goes beyond simple definitions and summaries to really open up fascinating and important ideas and arguments.
The book also explores how far the concept of mind can be extended to animals and machines, such as computers and robots. Philosophy undergraduates will find this an invaluable aid to study, one that goes beyond simple definitions and summaries to really open up fascinating and important ideas and arguments.
Reviews / Votes
"Is possession by spirits a global phenomenon or do the differences in different cultural conceptualisations preclude world-wide comparison? Can one distinguish clearly between possession by spirits and trance? Are shamans possessed? Are mediums charlatans or are they really shamans in Western dress? How do modern New Age shamans compare with tribal masters of the art? All these and other questions are addressed by the contributors to this collection of essays on spirit possession across time and space. The range of ethnography is a particularly important and unusual feature; the ethnographic details provide rich material for these important debates. A comprehensive introduction by the editors sets the theoretical context. An important contribution to thinking on this intriguing phenomenon." - Professor Jean La Fontaine, The London School of Economics and Political Science, UKMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
10
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
555 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-3574-3 (9780826435743)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Dr Bettina Schmidt is a cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Study of Religions at Bangor University, Wales. Dr Lucy Huskinson is Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at Bangor University, Wales.
Content
Introduction: Problems of Understanding Possession and Trance Lucy Huskinson and Bettina E. Schmidt (Bangor University, UK)
1. Animism Rather than Shamanism: New Approaches to What Shamans Do (for Other Animists), Graham Harvey (The Open University, UK)
2. Possession and Self-Possession: Towards an Integrated Mind-Body Perspective, Geoffrey Samuel (Cardiff University, UK)
3. Spirit Possession, Seduction, and Collective Consciousness, Louise Child (Cardiff University, UK)
4. Analytical Psychology and Spirit Possession. Towards a Non-Pathological Diagnosis of Spirit Possession, Lucy Huskinson (Bangor University, UK)
5. Possessed Women in the African Diaspora: Gender Difference in Spirit Possession Rituals, Bettina E. Schmidt (Bangor University, UK)
6. Somali Saar in the Era of Social and Religious Change, Marja Tiilikainen (University of Helsinki, Finland)
7. Taking Possession of Santo Daime: The Growth of Umbanda within a Brazilian New Religion, Andrew Dawson (Lancaster University, UK)
8. Spirit Attacks in Northern Namibia: Interpreting a New Phenomenon in an African Lutheran Context Kim Groop (Abo Akademi, Finland)
9. Divine Possession and Divination in the Graeco-Roman World: The Evidence from Iamblichus' On the Mysteries, Crystal Addey (Bristol University, UK)
10. Waking the Entranced: Reassessing Spiritualist Mediumship Through a Comparison of Spiritualist and Shamanic Spirit Possession Practices, David Gordon Wilson (University of Edinburgh, UK)
11. To Perform Possession and To Be Possessed in Performance: The Actor, the Medium and an 'Other', Sarah Goldingay (Exeter University, UK)
12. On the Transformation of the Spirit-Possession Film: Towards Rouch as 'Emergent Method', Saer Maty Ba (University of St Andrews, UK)
Bibliography
Index
1. Animism Rather than Shamanism: New Approaches to What Shamans Do (for Other Animists), Graham Harvey (The Open University, UK)
2. Possession and Self-Possession: Towards an Integrated Mind-Body Perspective, Geoffrey Samuel (Cardiff University, UK)
3. Spirit Possession, Seduction, and Collective Consciousness, Louise Child (Cardiff University, UK)
4. Analytical Psychology and Spirit Possession. Towards a Non-Pathological Diagnosis of Spirit Possession, Lucy Huskinson (Bangor University, UK)
5. Possessed Women in the African Diaspora: Gender Difference in Spirit Possession Rituals, Bettina E. Schmidt (Bangor University, UK)
6. Somali Saar in the Era of Social and Religious Change, Marja Tiilikainen (University of Helsinki, Finland)
7. Taking Possession of Santo Daime: The Growth of Umbanda within a Brazilian New Religion, Andrew Dawson (Lancaster University, UK)
8. Spirit Attacks in Northern Namibia: Interpreting a New Phenomenon in an African Lutheran Context Kim Groop (Abo Akademi, Finland)
9. Divine Possession and Divination in the Graeco-Roman World: The Evidence from Iamblichus' On the Mysteries, Crystal Addey (Bristol University, UK)
10. Waking the Entranced: Reassessing Spiritualist Mediumship Through a Comparison of Spiritualist and Shamanic Spirit Possession Practices, David Gordon Wilson (University of Edinburgh, UK)
11. To Perform Possession and To Be Possessed in Performance: The Actor, the Medium and an 'Other', Sarah Goldingay (Exeter University, UK)
12. On the Transformation of the Spirit-Possession Film: Towards Rouch as 'Emergent Method', Saer Maty Ba (University of St Andrews, UK)
Bibliography
Index