Chinese Religious Syncretism in Macau

In this paper I address the phenomenon of syncretism with respect to Chinese religions. An analysis of the syncretism that takes place between the three major Chinese religious traditions is first done in its personal and social dimensions. The social structure of Chinese religion is then used as a framework to understand how Buddhism and Daoism were made compatible with Confucianism. All this will serve as a background for the case study of Macau, where Chinese religious syncretism is very much alive. Three popular religious festivals are celebrated annually and simultaneously on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, namely, zuilongjie (醉龍節) Feast of the Drunken Dragon, tangongdan (譚公誕) Tam Kung Festival and fodanjie (佛誕節) Feast of the Buddha

THE BHAGAVAD GITA’S ETHICAL SYNCRETISM

ABSTRACT: Syncretism of various kinds is clearly in evidence in the Bhagavad Gītā, yet no attempt has been made to show how a consistent ethical syncretism might be articulated and defended in the scholarship. I attempt to do so here by trying to defend a form of consequentialism that allows a place for deontological and virtue-centric intuitions. At the same time, I show that because such consequentialism has freedom (mokṣa) as its highest end, it is more consistent than, and not reducible to, standard western variations of consequentialism

Book Review: \u3ci\u3eHindu-Catholic Encounters in Goa: Religion, Colonialism, and Modernity\u3c/i\u3e

A book review of Hindu-Catholic Encounters in Goa: Religion, Colonialism, and Modernity, by Alexander Henn

The erhu and its role as a vehicle for syncretic music performance in Singapore : a thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Music at Wellington Conservatorium of Music, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

This thesis examines the erhu, a bowed lute from China and its development as a vehicle for syncretic music-making in Singapore. Chapter One considers the erhu's status in Chinese culture and focuses on the differences between how the erhu was perceived by the "proletariat" of the early twentieth century contrasted with the imperialists of that time. A central assumption in this study is that erhu music-making in Singapore is inextricably bound with the traditions of both Western and Chinese culture. This concept is introduced in Chapter Two, with a discussion on musical syncretism. The erhu is a member of the huqin string family and is one instrument in the new ensemble idiom of the Singapore Huqin Quartet. This ensemble is the first to have huqin set up together in the manner of a Western string quartet. This ensemble has been influential on and contributes to a broad range of musical happenings in Singapore. It also represents one development of erhu as "world music". Phoon Yew Tien, who writes for the Singapore Huqin Quartet, is introduced. Chapter Three encompasses the different instruments that make up the huqin family, as played by the Singapore Huqin Quartet (which will be referred to as the SHQ in abbreviation). It also looks at the development of the modern Chinese orchestra. Chapter Four provides the descriptions and characteristics of the erhu and its performance techniques. In Chapter Five, eminent musical figures such as Liu Tian Hua and Hua Yan Jun (also known as Abing) will be discussed. Their music composed for the erhu has become an important part of the repertoire of the SHQ. The concluding chapter outlines differences between Western and Chinese music and looks at the merging of the two. A product of this merger is the compositions of distinguished Singapore composer, Phoon Yew Tien. His works are a fine example of the erhu's musical qualities and demonstrate the compositional potential of the SHQ's syncretic idiom with the merging of the Chinese and Western art-music forces. A musical composition by Phoon viewed in a compositional perspective summarizes the possibilities of further development of this style

Sinkretisme Dalam Arsitektur: Metodologi

. Syncretism has existed since along time ago and continuously take part in the human life until present day. Syncretism become significant issue which never been obsolescented to be a discussion material and research topic for researcher. At first, syncretism only be focused in the field of religion and philosophy, but then gradually touch on architectural aspects. This can be seen on temple\u27s buildings, churches, mosques. By conducting appropriate research method, syncretism in architectural aspect could be explored the causes, how the process and why it could be happended. This paper is aimed to show how to explore the meaning behind architectural physical form which encounters the process of syncretism and created symbols which has been used by community of architecture. Those proceses will be conducted by using research tool called methodology

Ethno-Spirituality: A Postcolonial Problematic?

This article explores the nature of spirituality in African traditions, for which we use the term ethno-spirituality. We examine the assumptions and effects of western missionaries, and how African spirituality negotiated with these new ideas and merged the new with the traditional. It problematises the relationship between Christianity in Africa and indigenous beliefs from disrespect for local religions, using terms such as animism, fetishism and paganism, to a more recent and respectful emphasis on whether we all have things to learn from each other. A particular case study is offered of San spirituality, exploring San story, the healing dance, ideas of spirits and deities, and transcendence. It concludes with a discussion of dialogue and hermeneutics around descriptions of God drawn out of philosophical work by Paul Ricoeur. It advocates a re-evaluation of San story, belief and practice as expressive of spiritual experience

Critique [of Some Symbols of Identity of Byzantine Catholics]

Two primary assumptions appear to inform this descriptive article about Byzantine Catholic communities in the United States: (1) old traditions are maintained in new environments through “syncretism”; and (2) the symbols that emerge in those syncretisms are reflective of the world view of the ethnic group that created them

Book Review: Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India

A review of Finding Jesus in Dharma: Christianity in India by Chaturvedi

Social and historical aspects of the assimilation of Christianity in Southeast Asia from 1500-1900 with reference to Thailand and the Philippines

Though many have attempted to address the complexities of the encounter between Christianity and non-western societies, the literature has not dealt much with Southeast Asia. This article attempts to help fill that gap by examining some of the factors affecting the assimilation of Christianity in Southeast Asia by looking at two countries in detail: Thailand and the Philippines. These two countries offer strikingly different assimilation results. Thailand was not colonized when Christianity was introduced while in the Philippines colonization and Christianity were intimately linked. As a result, both Thailand and the Philippines are a study in contrasts

Resource Use Decisions: A Framework for Studying Religion and Sustainable Environments

Analyses of everyday religion and sustainable environments in the Himalaya are not helped much by the blunt instruments of “world religions” approaches to religion and ecology. This article suggests that a better grounded understanding, especially helpful for policy-makers integrating case studies from widely varying regions, might be gained by bypassing debates about the nature of “religion” entirely. Inspired by discussions in the Everyday Religion and Sustainable Environments project, this article proposes a research framework with the deliberately mundane name resource use decisions. Attending to the reasons given, in various settings and to various stakeholders, for decisions regarding the cultivation and use of resources will take us beyond unreflectively secular understandings of these terms, as well as beyond reified understandings of “other-worldly” religion which exist more in the texts of scholars than in the everyday worlds where religion lives. Consonant with the recent turn to “lived religion,” resource use decisions draws attention to the religious creativity of agents at every level, lay, specialist and even other-than-human, and to the categories they employ in navigating and sustaining religious worlds. This approach better suits the ecologically, culturally and politically varied and changing Himalayan region, but also suggests ways in which Himalayan studies can contribute to broader reflection on the nature of religious practices and traditions in a pluralizing, globalizing and environmentally changing world