| The Telengits of Southern Siberia: Landscape, Religion and Knowledge in Motion Contributor(s): Halemba, Agnieszka (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415360005 ISBN-13: 9780415360005 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $180.50 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: March 2006 Annotation: The religion of the many native peoples in Siberia and the Russian Arctic is often a sort of natural religion, or shamanism, which involves a natural, harmonious and evolving approach to the natural world and to social relations, and, as such, is akin to the sort of religion and approach to life sought after by many adherents of new religions, and of new movements within established religions, in the west. However, as the demand for national recognition grows among such peoples, and with it the need for more formal state structures, built around the nation, religion too begins to become formalized, and to lose its natural, all-pervasive character. This book explores the religion and world outlook of the Telengits of the Republic of Altai in Southern Siberia. It provides an account of the Altai, its peoples, clans and political structures, focusing particularly on the Telengits; and considers the different elements of religious belief exhibited among these native peoples. It goes on to investigate the sacred places of the Telengits, their religious customs, beliefs and rituals. It addresses important theoretical questions raised by the interaction of different kinds of knowledge, especially in the context of state intervention in the area of religion, and with a particular focus on the interaction between non-institutionalized and institutionalized religious practices and knowledge. It demonstrates how the idea of national unity as expressed in state ideology influences processes of reshaping spiritual knowledge among the Telengits. Overall, this book is a comprehensive anthropological account of the contemporary religious life of the Telengits, and has important implications forwider debates in sociology and politics. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Comparative Religion - Social Science | Anthropology - General - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - General |
| Dewey: 299.433 |
| LCCN: 2005023108 |
| Series: Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe |
| Physical Information: 0.71" H x 6.34" W x 9.26" (1.07 lbs) 236 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Russia |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In a new and engaging study, Halemba explores the religion and world outlook of the Telengits of Altai. The book provides an account of the Altai, its peoples, clans and political structures, focusing particularly on on the Telengits, whilst also considering the different elements of religious belief exhibited among these native peoples. Paradoxically, as the demand for national recognition grows among such people, and with it the need for more formal state structures, built around the nation, religion too begins to become formalized, and loses its natural, all-pervasive character. With the Telengits, whose natural religion includes elements of Buddhism, this takes the form of a debate as to whether the state religion of their polity is to be Buddhism or, contrary to the character of shamanism, a formal, structured, fixed shamanism. This is a comprehensive anthropological account of the contemporary religious life of the Telengits, holding important implications for wider debates in sociology and politics. |