The Limits of Meaning: Case Studies in the Anthropology of ChristianityMatthew Eric Engelke, Matt Tomlinson Too often, anthropological accounts of ritual leave readers with the impression that everything goes smoothly, that rituals are "meaningful events." But what happens when rituals fail, or when they seem "meaningless"? Drawing on research in the anthropology of Christianity from around the globe, the authors in this volume suggest that in order to analyze meaning productively, we need to consider its limits. This collection is a welcome new addition to the anthropology of religion, offering fresh debates on a classic topic and drawing attention to meaning in a way that other volumes have for key terms like "culture" and "fieldwork. |
Contents
Charismatic Speech and | 39 |
On the Uses of Ambiguity in Ritual Life | 63 |
Prayer and Success in World Vision | 85 |
Institutional Power | 105 |
The Limits of Meaning in Fijian Methodist Sermons | 129 |
Converting Meanings and the Meanings of Conversion in Samoan | 147 |
The Limits of Christian Meaning | 165 |
On the Semiotics of Sacral Action | 189 |
On Limits Ruptures Meaning and Meaninglessness | 211 |
List of Contributors | 225 |
Other editions - View all
The Limits of Meaning: Case Studies in the Anthropology of Christianity Matthew Eric Engelke,Matt Tomlinson No preview available - 2006 |
The Limits of Meaning: Case Studies in the Anthropology of Christianity Matthew Engelke,Matt Tomlinson No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
action American Anthropology apostolics argues asked authority Aymara ayuno become believers Biak Bible called Cambridge catechists Catholic chapter charismatic Chicago Christian church claim colonial concern congregation context conversion culture describes direct discourse discussion Duke University effect ethnographic evangelical event example exchange experience explain expressed fact failure faith Fijian follow human important Indonesian institutions interpretation Jesus knowledge language limits linguistic live Masowe meaning meaningful meaninglessness meeting mission missionaries moral movement notes offering Papuan particular performance person political position practices prayer preachers present problem production prophets questions refer relation religion religious ritual Samoan sense sermon signs social speak Spirit structure success suggest symbols things tion told translation turn understand University Press Vision volume worship York Zimbabwe