Religion and Senses of Place

Religion involves bodily and sensual activities that take place in specific locations, which are often vibrant, colorful, dramatic, and engaging aspects of cultures. This volume examines senses of place in which people perform religious acts and understand emplacement / belonging to be key features of their religious practices and identities. It includes case studies of religions originating in South Asia and those identifiable as "Indigenous," discussing phenomena such as the presence and presentation of religion in shrines, museums, homes, pilgrimages, diasporas, exiles, dislocations, border crossings, inter-religious performances, cosmologies, auspicious and inauspicious locations, topophilia, and utopianism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

Due to the physical and sensual components of religion, it takes place in various locations. Indeed, religious sites are among the most vibrant, colorful, dramatic, and captivating aspects of many cultures. Religiously significant places, even the more austere ones, are richly expressive of all that is important to particular communities, while also potentially illustrating all that is objectionable to others. Some religions select single trees, springs, mountains, rivers, or other "found places" as the focal points of their festivals, ceremonies, and narratives. These activities do not leave these places as they were found but shape them as they continue to shape ongoing religious developments.

This volume examines senses of place in which people not only perform religious acts in particular places but also understand emplacement/belonging to be key features of their religious practices and identities. Such places include specific local shrines and vast territories. Religion and Senses of Place focuses on case studies of religions originating in South Asia and those identifiable as "Indigenous." A range of phenomena expressive and educational of senses of place are discussed in this volume. They include the presence and presentation of religion in shrines, museums, homes, and other places; pilgrimages, diasporas, exiles, dislocations, border crossings, inter-religious performances, and other styles of movement; cosmologies; auspicious and inauspicious locations; topophilia and utopianism; and more. The contributions in the volume come from scholars with expertise in a range of approaches and methods to illustrate the breadth of possibilities for studying religious senses of place.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 180 x 291 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800500662