The Efficacy of Intimacy and Belief in Worldmaking Practices

This book explores 'efficacious intimacy as an embodied concept of worldmaking,and a framework for studying belief practices in religious and political domains. The study of how beliefs make and manifest power through their sociality and materiality can reveal who,or what,is considered effective in a particular socio-cultural context.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the profound concept of 'efficacious intimacy' as an embodied framework for understanding worldmaking and exploring belief practices across religious and political domains. By examining the intricate ways in which beliefs shape and wield power through their social and material aspects, the study unveils the dynamics that determine what is deemed effective within specific socio-cultural contexts. Through a series of captivating case studies drawn from diverse religious and political landscapes in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the authors delve into a range of practices, from the ceremonial ingestion of sacred water to the courageous resistance against injustice. By meticulously analyzing the interplay of emotions and affects, the book sheds light on how these elements influence the dynamics of proximity and distance. In a groundbreaking approach, the book offers a thought-provoking exploration of how material practices shape the construction of life-worlds, making it an essential read for scholars of anthropology, religion, and material culture alike. Its insights and revelations will deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between beliefs, power, and the material world, and inspire us to reimagine the possibilities for creating a more just and compassionate world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032498812