Spirit Possession and Trance: New Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Description

Spirit possession is a phenomenon that often elicits a response of fear, particular in those who are ignorant of its meaning and role within its particular religious and cultural traditions. Possession by divine beings (such as spirits or gods) is, however, a key practice in religions worldwide. It is therefore important to gain an understanding of this practice in its cultural context before trying to develop a wider theory about it. This fascinating book contains several case studies that present new interpretations of spirit possession worldwide. The authors show the diversity of possible interpretations and methodological approaches that provide a new insight into the understanding of possession and trance.

Bettina E. Schmidt is a cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Study of Religions at Bangor University, UK. Lucy Huskinson is Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at Bangor University, UK.

"Is possession by spirits a global phenomenon or do the differences in different cultural conceptualisations preclude world-wide comparison? Can one distinguish clearly between possession by spirits and trance? Are shamans possessed? Are mediums charlatans or are they really shamans in Western dress? How do modern New Age shamans compare with tribal masters of the art? All these and other questions are addressed by the contributors to this collection of essays on spirit possession across time and space. The range of ethnography is a particularly important and unusual feature; the ethnographic details provide rich material for these important debates. A comprehensive introduction by the editors sets the theoretical context. An important contribution to thinking on this intriguing phenomenon." - Professor Jean La Fontaine, The London School of Economics and Political Science, UK Spirit Possession and Trance is one of the most captivating contributions to the field published in the last years...The volume succeeds in discussing trance and possession as a living reality, and at the same time it provides fresh methodological reflections for future analyses. Trance and possession are explored as polyphonic texts and debated as a cultural reality that defines and is defined by contextual history and local stories, micro- and macro-geography, classic and vernacular literature, music, media and politics...The many and diverse examples of trance and possession described and discussed in this book also show how individual and collective experiences lead to the affirmation, consolidation and transmission of forms of power...the book proves to be an excellent and much needed resource for any reader interested in trance possession, either a student or a teacher. -- Fabrizio M. Ferrari, University of Chester * Religions of South Asia *