Religion and magic in western culture / by Daniel Dubuisson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dubuisson, Daniel, 1950- author.

Series:

Supplements to Method & theory in the study of religion ; VOLUME 6.

Supplements to method & theory in the study of religion, 2214-3270 ; VOLUME 6

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Magic--Religious aspects.

Magic.

Religion.

Physical Description:

viii, 201 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2016]

Summary:

In the history of Western culture, theology, and science, a strict dichotomy exists between religion and magic: religion as the intellectually and morally superior one - magic as the primitive, superstitious, demonic other. The present work aims to break with this tradition, and traces the origin of this dichotomy as well as its many purposes. Whose powers does it serve? Which interests and ideological stakes does it conceal? Moreover, the author proposes a new epistemological framework for the study of magisms as well as their "rehumanisation", and argues for a rehabilitation of their studies. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 A Universe Disfigured and Caricatured 6

1.1 Marcel Mauss's Essay on Magic 6

1.2 A Problematic Couple 13

1.3 What are the Real Stakes? 22

1.4 The Indispensable Adversary 27

1.5 An Adversary Mute, Mutilated and Disfigured 33

1.6 The Diabolisation and Criminalisation of Magic 35

1.7 A Long, Violent History 48

2 The Powers of Religion 55

2.1 A Double Mirror Construction 55

2.1.1 Religio, Religion, Religions 63

2.1.2 What Constitutes "Religious"? 70

2.1.3 Gods, Priests and Rituals 71

2.1.4 What Elements? 85

2.1.5 What Form? 89

2.1.6 What Boundaries? 90

2.1.7 Paradoxes 92

2.1.8 A Major Aporia 93

2.1.9 The Non-religious Heritage of Religion 96

2.2 The Great Convergence 97

2.2.1 A Formidable Discursive Device 101

2.2.2 An Incomparable Power 106

2.2.3 An Instrument of Conquest - and Considerable Stakes 123

2.2.4 A Conquering, Dominating and Narcissistic Anthropology 130

3 Magic without Religion 136

3.1 If Religion Does Not Exist... 136

3.2 A Universal Framework and Model 139

3.2.1 A Curious Inventory 139

3.2.2 A Sui Generis Force 144

3.2.3 Catholic Magisms 146

3.2.4 A Living Universe 158

3.2.5 A Return to Mauss 163

3.3 Lands of Misfortune 166

3.3.1 Suffering and Worry 166

3.3.2 Explain, Avoid and Heat 173

3.3.3 Man's "Small Worlds" 175.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 183-197) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Dubuisson, Daniel, 1950- author. Religion and magic in western culture

ISBN:

9789004298958

9004298959

OCLC:

938393825