Shamanism, Discourse, Modernity

301 Pages·2015·1.581 MB·English

by  Thomas Karl Alberts

SHAMANISM, DISCOURSE, MODERNITY
VITALITY OF INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS
Series Editors
Graham Harvey, Open University, UK
Afeosemime Adogame, The University of Edinburgh, UK
Inés Talamantez, University of California–Santa Barbara, USA
Ashgate’s Vitality of Indigenous Religions series offers an exciting new cluster of research
monographs, drawing together volumes from leading international scholars across a wide
range of disciplinary perspectives. Indigenous religions are vital and empowering for
many thousands of indigenous peoples globally, and dialogue with, and consideration
of, these diverse religious lifeways promises to challenge and refine the methodologies of
a number of academic disciplines, whilst greatly enhancing understandings of the world.
This series explores the development of contemporary indigenous religions from
traditional, ancestral precursors, but the characteristic contribution of the series is
its focus on their living and current manifestations. Devoted to the contemporary
expression, experience and understanding of particular indigenous peoples and their
religions, books address key issues which include: the sacredness of land, exile from
lands, diasporic survival and diversification, the indigenization of Christianity and
other missionary religions, sacred language, and revitalization movements. Proving of
particular value to academics, graduates, postgraduates and higher level undergraduate
readers worldwide, this series holds obvious attraction to scholars of Native American
studies, Maori studies, African studies and offers invaluable contributions to religious
studies, sociology, anthropology, geography and other related subject areas.
OTHER TITLES IN THE SERIES
Anishinaabe Ways of Knowing and Being
Lawrence W. Gross
ISBN 978-1-4724-1734-3
Progress and Its Impact on the Nagas
A Clash of Worldviews
Tezenlo Thong
ISBN 978 1 4094 6820 2
Religious Change and Indigenous Peoples
The Making of Religious Identities
Helena Onnudottir, Adam Possamai and Bryan S. Turner
ISBN 978 1 4724 0297 4
Shamanism, Discourse, Modernity
THOMAS KARL ALBERTS
University of Cape Town, South Africa
First published 2015 by Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © Thomas Karl Alberts 2015
Thomas Karl Alberts has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act,
1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only
for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Alberts, Thomas Karl.
Shamanism, discourse, modernity / by Thomas Karl Alberts.
pages cm. – (Vitality of indigenous religions)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4724-3984-0 (hardcover) 1. Shamanism. 2. Indigenous peoples – Religion.
3. Civilization, Modern. 4. Religion and culture. I. Title.
BF1621.A43 2015
201’44–dc23
2014037350
ISBN 9781472439840 (hbk)
ISBN 9781315608815 (ebk)
for Ushka
in memory of Paul Alberts
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Contents
List of Figures and Table ix
Acknowledgements xi
List of Abbreviations xiii
1 Introduction 1
2 Shamanism 45
3 Indigenism 85
4 Environmentalism 129
5 Neoliberalism 173
6 Imbrications 217
References 231
Index 275
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List of Figures and Table
Figures
2.1 ‘Pole vault’, chronophotograph by Étienne-Jules Marey, circa
1890. ©: Etienne Jules Marey/collection Cinémathèque Française. 81
6.1 Contemporary shamanism. Diagram by the author. 219
Table
6.1 Typology of Dark Green Religion (Taylor 2009: 15). 222