Divine Play, Sacred Laughter, and Spiritual Understanding / by P. Laude.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Laude, Patrick, 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and sociology.

Religion--Philosophy.

Religion.

Religions.

Spirituality.

Literature.

Sociology of Religion.

Philosophy of Religion.

Comparative Religion.

Local Subjects:

Sociology of Religion.

Philosophy of Religion.

Comparative Religion.

Spirituality.

Literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (280 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2005.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan US : Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This study in the relationship between religion and the comic focuses on the ways in which the latter fulfils a central function in the sacred understanding of reality of pre-modern cultures and the spiritual life of religious traditions. The central thesis is that figures such as tricksters, sacred clowns, and holy fools play an essential role in bridging the gap between the divine and the human by integrating the element of disequilibrium that results from the contact between incommensurable realities. This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural series of essays is devoted to spiritual, anthropological, and literary characters and phenomena that point to a deeper understanding of the various mythological, ceremonial, and mystical ways in which the fundamental ambiguity of existence is symbolized and acted out. Given its interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective, this volume will appeal to scholars from a variety of fields.

Contents:

Cover; Table of Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1 Mâyâ and the Divine Treasure; 2 Ambiguity of the Demiurge; 3 Dionysus, Shiva, Osiris; 4 Divine Troublemakers; 5 Coyote and Kin; 6 Reading the Trickster's Footsteps; 7 Thundering Clowns; 8 Spiritual Laughter; 9 Fools for Christ's Sake; 10 The People of Blame; 11 Fools on a Tightrope; 12 Epilogue: Cracks of Light; Notes; Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [263]-270) and index.

ISBN:

9786611368746

9781281368744

1281368741

9781403980588

1403980586

OCLC:

560468890