Joseph Epes Brown
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195138757
- eISBN:
- 9780199871759
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195138757.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, World Religions
This book offers a thematic approach to looking at Native American religious traditions. Within the great multiplicity of Native American cultures, the book observes certain common themes that ...
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This book offers a thematic approach to looking at Native American religious traditions. Within the great multiplicity of Native American cultures, the book observes certain common themes that resonate within many Native traditions. It demonstrates how themes within native traditions connect with each other, at the same time upholding the integrity of individual traditions. The book illustrates each of these themes with explorations of specific native cultures including Lakota, Navajo, Apache, Koyukon, and Ojibwe. It demonstrates how Native American values provide an alternative metaphysics that stand opposed to modern materialism. It also shows how these spiritual values provide material for a serious rethinking of modern attitudes—especially toward the environment—as well as how they may help non-native peoples develop a more sensitive response to native concerns. Throughout, the book draws on the author's extensive personal experience with Black Elk, who came to symbolize for many the greatness of the imperiled native cultures.Less
This book offers a thematic approach to looking at Native American religious traditions. Within the great multiplicity of Native American cultures, the book observes certain common themes that resonate within many Native traditions. It demonstrates how themes within native traditions connect with each other, at the same time upholding the integrity of individual traditions. The book illustrates each of these themes with explorations of specific native cultures including Lakota, Navajo, Apache, Koyukon, and Ojibwe. It demonstrates how Native American values provide an alternative metaphysics that stand opposed to modern materialism. It also shows how these spiritual values provide material for a serious rethinking of modern attitudes—especially toward the environment—as well as how they may help non-native peoples develop a more sensitive response to native concerns. Throughout, the book draws on the author's extensive personal experience with Black Elk, who came to symbolize for many the greatness of the imperiled native cultures.
Carolyn P. Egri
- Published in print:
- 1999
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198295099
- eISBN:
- 9780191599262
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019829509X.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, Environmental Politics
Concerns spiritual discourse as a means of constructing and reconstructing humankind's relationship with the natural environment. After a brief historical review, the chapter explores the spiritual ...
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Concerns spiritual discourse as a means of constructing and reconstructing humankind's relationship with the natural environment. After a brief historical review, the chapter explores the spiritual and philosophical lessons implicit in ancient and modern accounts of relationships between humankind and nature. Focusing on humankind's need to find modes of social organization that allow it to survive with nature, it shows how different cultures have searched out and constructed different meanings and purposes for nature. It discusses the ways in which spiritual communities and religious organizations have worked to further environmental causes and how ecological consciousness has evolved in consequence. Finally, it discusses the implications of spiritual discourse for such organizations working at a global level; these involve the development of a more pluralistic recognition of the need to respect diversity of outlook.Less
Concerns spiritual discourse as a means of constructing and reconstructing humankind's relationship with the natural environment. After a brief historical review, the chapter explores the spiritual and philosophical lessons implicit in ancient and modern accounts of relationships between humankind and nature. Focusing on humankind's need to find modes of social organization that allow it to survive with nature, it shows how different cultures have searched out and constructed different meanings and purposes for nature. It discusses the ways in which spiritual communities and religious organizations have worked to further environmental causes and how ecological consciousness has evolved in consequence. Finally, it discusses the implications of spiritual discourse for such organizations working at a global level; these involve the development of a more pluralistic recognition of the need to respect diversity of outlook.
Sarah Kay
- Published in print:
- 1995
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198151920
- eISBN:
- 9780191672903
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198151920.003.0005
- Subject:
- Literature, Early and Medieval Literature, European Literature
According to French social anthropologist Louis Dumont, hierarchy refers to the ‘principle by which elements of a whole are ranked in relation to the whole’, wherein the whole covers its parts. ...
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According to French social anthropologist Louis Dumont, hierarchy refers to the ‘principle by which elements of a whole are ranked in relation to the whole’, wherein the whole covers its parts. Although this notion was originally intended for the Indian caste system, it may also be applied to modern Western thought, wherein the subordinate parts of a hierarchy are mutually dependent. In medieval writings, particularly those from French society, the metaphor of the body and its limbs are used to portray subordination and how these elements are all important to the functions of the overall ‘body politic’. While the concept of the ‘individual’ is used in the same way with respect to society, this chapter also examines how hierarchy is based not on power or force but on moral or spiritual value.Less
According to French social anthropologist Louis Dumont, hierarchy refers to the ‘principle by which elements of a whole are ranked in relation to the whole’, wherein the whole covers its parts. Although this notion was originally intended for the Indian caste system, it may also be applied to modern Western thought, wherein the subordinate parts of a hierarchy are mutually dependent. In medieval writings, particularly those from French society, the metaphor of the body and its limbs are used to portray subordination and how these elements are all important to the functions of the overall ‘body politic’. While the concept of the ‘individual’ is used in the same way with respect to society, this chapter also examines how hierarchy is based not on power or force but on moral or spiritual value.
Theodore Ziolkowski
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801450358
- eISBN:
- 9780801463419
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801450358.001.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, World Literature
The world's oldest work of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the adventures of the semi-mythical Sumerian king of Uruk and his ultimately futile quest for immortality after the death of his ...
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The world's oldest work of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the adventures of the semi-mythical Sumerian king of Uruk and his ultimately futile quest for immortality after the death of his friend and companion, Enkidu, a wildman sent by the gods. Gilgamesh was deified by the Sumerians around 2500 bce, and his tale as we know it today was codified in cuneiform tablets around 1750 bce and continued to influence ancient cultures into Roman times. The epic was, however, largely forgotten, until the cuneiform tablets were rediscovered in 1872 in the British Museum's collection of recently unearthed Mesopotamian artifacts. In the decades that followed its translation into modern languages, the Epic of Gilgamesh has become a point of reference throughout Western culture. This book explores the surprising legacy of the poem and its hero, as well as the epic's continuing influence in modern letters and arts. The book sees fascination with Gilgamesh as a reflection of eternal spiritual values—love, friendship, courage, and the fear and acceptance of death. Noted writers, musicians, and artists from Sweden to Spain, from the United States to Australia, have adapted the story in ways that meet the social and artistic trends of the times. The spirit of this capacious hero has absorbed the losses felt in the immediate postwar period and been infused with the excitement and optimism of movements for gay rights, feminism, and environmental consciousness. Gilgamesh is at once a seismograph of shifts in Western history and culture and a testament to the verities and values of the ancient epic.Less
The world's oldest work of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the adventures of the semi-mythical Sumerian king of Uruk and his ultimately futile quest for immortality after the death of his friend and companion, Enkidu, a wildman sent by the gods. Gilgamesh was deified by the Sumerians around 2500 bce, and his tale as we know it today was codified in cuneiform tablets around 1750 bce and continued to influence ancient cultures into Roman times. The epic was, however, largely forgotten, until the cuneiform tablets were rediscovered in 1872 in the British Museum's collection of recently unearthed Mesopotamian artifacts. In the decades that followed its translation into modern languages, the Epic of Gilgamesh has become a point of reference throughout Western culture. This book explores the surprising legacy of the poem and its hero, as well as the epic's continuing influence in modern letters and arts. The book sees fascination with Gilgamesh as a reflection of eternal spiritual values—love, friendship, courage, and the fear and acceptance of death. Noted writers, musicians, and artists from Sweden to Spain, from the United States to Australia, have adapted the story in ways that meet the social and artistic trends of the times. The spirit of this capacious hero has absorbed the losses felt in the immediate postwar period and been infused with the excitement and optimism of movements for gay rights, feminism, and environmental consciousness. Gilgamesh is at once a seismograph of shifts in Western history and culture and a testament to the verities and values of the ancient epic.
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- March 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780226496474
- eISBN:
- 9780226496481
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226496481.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
Musil's view of modern life emphasized that rationalism and irrationalism were the poles of the age, and his thought was a sophisticated way of coming to terms with both, particularly by exploring ...
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Musil's view of modern life emphasized that rationalism and irrationalism were the poles of the age, and his thought was a sophisticated way of coming to terms with both, particularly by exploring his culture's understandings of sexuality and gender. Musil attempted to bring the conceptually strong person, a type ordinarily associated with science or philosophy, into relation with the highly individualized experiences of literature—ethical experiences or experiences of feeling. This chapter provides an account of Musil's understanding of himself as a writer within the intellectual world of Central Europe in the early twentieth century, and then turns to his view of sexuality and gender, especially in the fiction and essays he wrote before the war. Musil's view of aesthetics was grounded in this problematic situation of modern culture, and he emphasized modern culture's formlessness as it emerged in the early twentieth century. Contemplating “the great inner disorder” of contemporary life, it seemed to him that “such an illogical disorder of life, such an unraveling of once-binding cultural energies and ideals, would have to be fertile soil for a great logician of spiritual values.”Less
Musil's view of modern life emphasized that rationalism and irrationalism were the poles of the age, and his thought was a sophisticated way of coming to terms with both, particularly by exploring his culture's understandings of sexuality and gender. Musil attempted to bring the conceptually strong person, a type ordinarily associated with science or philosophy, into relation with the highly individualized experiences of literature—ethical experiences or experiences of feeling. This chapter provides an account of Musil's understanding of himself as a writer within the intellectual world of Central Europe in the early twentieth century, and then turns to his view of sexuality and gender, especially in the fiction and essays he wrote before the war. Musil's view of aesthetics was grounded in this problematic situation of modern culture, and he emphasized modern culture's formlessness as it emerged in the early twentieth century. Contemplating “the great inner disorder” of contemporary life, it seemed to him that “such an illogical disorder of life, such an unraveling of once-binding cultural energies and ideals, would have to be fertile soil for a great logician of spiritual values.”
Alf Hiltebeitel
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- November 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780824834661
- eISBN:
- 9780824870713
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Hawai'i Press
- DOI:
- 10.21313/hawaii/9780824834661.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Buddhism
This book proposes a fresh take on the ancient Indian concept dharma. It offers insights into the innovative character of both Hindu and Buddhist usages of the concept. The book explores how the ...
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This book proposes a fresh take on the ancient Indian concept dharma. It offers insights into the innovative character of both Hindu and Buddhist usages of the concept. The book explores how the Buddhist canon brought out different meanings of dharma. This is followed by an exposition of the hypothesis that most, if not all, of the Hindu law books flowered after the third-century BC emperor Asoka, a Buddhist, made dharma the guiding principle of an entire realm and culture. The book shows how their narratives amplified the new Brahmanical norms and brought out the ethical dilemmas and spiritual teachings that arose from inquiry into dharma. A chapter on the tale of the Life of the Buddha considers the relation between dharma, moksa/nirvana (salvation), and bhakti (devotion). Here, the book ties together a thread that runs through the entire story, which is the Buddha's tendency to present dharma as a kind of civil discourse. In this sense, dharma challenges people to think critically or at least more creatively about their ethical principles and the foundations of their own spiritual values. A closing chapter on dharma in the twenty-first century explores its new cachet in an era of globalization, its diasporic implications, its openings into American popular culture, some implications for women, and the questions it is still raising for modern India.Less
This book proposes a fresh take on the ancient Indian concept dharma. It offers insights into the innovative character of both Hindu and Buddhist usages of the concept. The book explores how the Buddhist canon brought out different meanings of dharma. This is followed by an exposition of the hypothesis that most, if not all, of the Hindu law books flowered after the third-century BC emperor Asoka, a Buddhist, made dharma the guiding principle of an entire realm and culture. The book shows how their narratives amplified the new Brahmanical norms and brought out the ethical dilemmas and spiritual teachings that arose from inquiry into dharma. A chapter on the tale of the Life of the Buddha considers the relation between dharma, moksa/nirvana (salvation), and bhakti (devotion). Here, the book ties together a thread that runs through the entire story, which is the Buddha's tendency to present dharma as a kind of civil discourse. In this sense, dharma challenges people to think critically or at least more creatively about their ethical principles and the foundations of their own spiritual values. A closing chapter on dharma in the twenty-first century explores its new cachet in an era of globalization, its diasporic implications, its openings into American popular culture, some implications for women, and the questions it is still raising for modern India.
Kelly R. Arora
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- August 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190677565
- eISBN:
- 9780190677596
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190677565.003.0022
- Subject:
- Religion, Religious Studies, World Religions
Interspiritual conversations are becoming more common in health care settings as providers recognize that patients’ diverse spiritual/religious values, beliefs, and practices may influence their ...
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Interspiritual conversations are becoming more common in health care settings as providers recognize that patients’ diverse spiritual/religious values, beliefs, and practices may influence their health care decision-making and general well-being. This essay explores the practical dimensions of teaching health care professionals how to use an interspiritual dialogue approach grounded in values and particularism through a course entitled “Faith, Spirituality and Culture in Health Care,” which was designed for and taught to doctoral students at a Denver, Colorado, School of Pharmacy. After considering the contemporary context for teaching interspiritual dialogue to healthcare professionals, the essay reflects upon and relates the pedagogical choices made in designing and teaching the course, as well as the course structure, outline, objectives, and schedule.Less
Interspiritual conversations are becoming more common in health care settings as providers recognize that patients’ diverse spiritual/religious values, beliefs, and practices may influence their health care decision-making and general well-being. This essay explores the practical dimensions of teaching health care professionals how to use an interspiritual dialogue approach grounded in values and particularism through a course entitled “Faith, Spirituality and Culture in Health Care,” which was designed for and taught to doctoral students at a Denver, Colorado, School of Pharmacy. After considering the contemporary context for teaching interspiritual dialogue to healthcare professionals, the essay reflects upon and relates the pedagogical choices made in designing and teaching the course, as well as the course structure, outline, objectives, and schedule.
