Stories, Senses and the Charismatic Relation: A Reflexive Ethnography of Christian Experience

Stories, Senses and the Charismatic Relation offers a unique and auto-ethnographic exploration of Christian experience, rendering a deep, phenomenological account of how devotional worlds become real. It considers the role of sensory aspects of experience, the use of stories and metaphors, and the charismatic relationships of devotion with a divine Other.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

It delves into the depths of phenomenology, providing a profound and nuanced understanding of how devotional worlds come to life. Through a deeply personal and auto-ethnographic approach, the book offers a profound exploration of the ways in which these worlds are experienced, shaped, constituted, and performed by those who inhabit them.

The journey begins with the author's introspective exploration of their own experiences of the divine, encompassing the spiritual journeys of their family members and the vibrant 'spiritual community' to which they belonged. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the southern Balkans, where this community thrived, the author weaves together a rich tapestry of insights.

Jamie Barnes delves into three central themes: the profound role that sensory aspects of experience play in shaping one's lived world and their perceptions of the beings inhabiting it; the strategic use of stories and metaphors to express and shape aspects of past experiences, as well as to envision and create desired worlds and future pathways; and the delicate and tenuous bond that holds these sensed, narrated, and lived worlds together—built on hope, trust, and love—through charismatic relationships of devotion with a divine Other.

Through this extraordinary and innovative ethnography, readers are granted a rare and intimate glimpse into the world of Christian experience. It offers a profound and nuanced understanding of the ways in which devotional worlds emerge, evolve, and are lived, shedding light on the intricate interplay between the senses, narratives, and spiritual relationships that constitute this unique and profound spiritual realm.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367553784