ANTHROP 2R03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Thai Buddha Amulet, Apotropaic Magic, Participant Observation
27 Mar 2019
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Document Summary
Religion as a practice vs. as a prescription. Distinguishes btwn "religion as practiced" and "religion as prescribed" Prescription: what texts, canon law, and scriptures specify. Especially significant for "world religions" with codified texts, such as catholicism, Outlines anthropologist"s perspective -- not faith based, more interested in day-to- day enactment of the religious tradition. Thailand = "buddhist nation" but complex relationship btwn world religion and how it"s actually practiced on the ground. "how authoritative traditions are understood by, adapted, altered, used, or rejected by everyday participants as well as broadly influential leaders" Through participant-observation, interviews, and studies of media/popular culture. Can integrate studies of scripture, texts, and how they related to practice. Kammic: concerned with karma, getting spiritual merit for re-births. Apotropaic: concerned with daily problems, avoiding evil, attracting good fortune. Thai amulets are apotropaic and objects of actual power. Moro describes jatuskham-rammathep amulets which were especially popular during her 2007 fieldwork.
