Divine Play, Sacred Laughter, and Spiritual Understanding

2005. Auflage 2005
ISBN: 978-1-349-53173-8
Verlag: Palgrave MacMillan Us

Buch, Englisch, 273 Seiten, Format (B × H): 140 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 358 g

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.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Laude, P.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Religionssoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionssoziologie und -psychologie, Spiritualität, Mystik
• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literaturwissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Vergleichende Religionswissenschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction Mâyâ and the Divine Treasure Ambiguity of the Demiurge Dionysus, Shiva, Osiris Divine Troublemakers Coyote and Kin Reading the Trickster's Footsteps Thundering Clowns Spiritual Laughter Fools for Christ's Sake The People of Blame Fools on a Tightrope Epilogue: Cracks of Light Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

PATRICK LAUDE is Professor of French at Georgetown University, USA. He is the author of several books including , as well as numerous articles dealing with the relationship between mysticism, symbolism and literature, and important spiritual figures such as Jeanne Guyon, Simone Weil, Louis Massignon and Frithjof Schuon.