Religion, secularism, and ethnicity in contemporary Nepal / edited by David N. Gellner, Sondra L. Hausner, Chiara Letizia.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gellner, David N., editor.

Hausner, Sondra L., editor.

Letizia, Chiara, editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and politics--Nepal.

Religion and politics.

Secularism--Nepal.

Secularism.

Ethnicity--Nepal.

Ethnicity.

Nepal.

Physical Description:

xiii, 491 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New Delhi, India : Oxford University Press, 2016.

Summary:

Religion in Nepal is changing as Nepalese society transforms and globalizes. New middle-class movements, new forms of ethnic identity, and new values challenge older traditions, such as shamanism, animal sacrifice, ritual, and healing. Nepalis are faced with pressing questions about how the state should interact with a multicultural and multi-religious society. Eleven detailed case studies, contextualized by a substantial Introduction and a comparative Afterword by political philosopher Rajeev Bhargava, describe and analyse how religion is practised in Nepal today. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction: Religion and Identities in Post-Panchayat Nepal / David N. Gellner Gellner, David N., Chiara Letizia Letizia, Chiara 1

Part I Contrasting Urban and Rural Views: Secularism, Individualism, and Blood Sacrifice

2 Ideas of Secularism in Contemporary Nepal / Chiara Letizia Letizia, Chiara 35

3 'When Gods Return to Their Homeland in the Himalayas': Maoism, Religion, and Change in the Model Village of Thabang, Mid-Western Nepal / Ina Zharkevich Zharkevich, Ina 77

4 Neither Statues nor Ritual: An Analysis of New Religious Movements and Therapists in Nepal / Gérard Toffin Toffin, Gérard 115

5 'Living Goddesses Everywhere?' On the Possession of Women by the Goddess Bhagavati in Some Mountain Villages of Eastern Nepal / Pustak Ghimire Ghimire, Pustak 150

6 Blood Sacrifice in Nepal: Transformations and Criticism / Axel Michaels Michaels, Axel 192

7 Ancestor Worship and Sacrifice: Debates over Bahun-Chhetri Clan Rituals (Kul Puja) in Nepal / Krishna P. Adhikari Adhikari, Krishna P., David N. Gellner Gellner, David N. 226

Part II Ethnic Traditions Confront a Changing State and Society

8 State Rituals in a Secular State? Replacing the Nepalese King in the Pacali Bhairava Sword Procession and Other Rituals / Astrid Zotter Zotter, Astrid 265

9 Tamang Lhochhar and the New Nepal / David Holmberg Holmberg, David 302

10 Redefining Kiranti Religion in Contemporary Nepal / Martin Gaenszle Gaenszle, Martin 326

11 Confrontations between Maoists and Buddhists in Nepal: Historical Continuities, Flux, and Transformations in Collective Myth and Practice / Brigitte Steinmann Steinmann, Brigitte 353

12 Tamang Christians and the Resituating of Religious Difference / Ben Campbell Campbell, Ben 403.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780199467723

0199467722

OCLC:

959843644