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A History of Religion in 51/2 Objects Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses
A leading scholar explores the importance of physical objects and sensory experience in the practice of religion.
Humans are needy. We need "things" objects, keepsakes, stuff, tokens, knickknacks, bits and pieces, junk, and treasure. We carry special objects in our pockets and purses, and place them on shelves in our homes and offices. As commonplace as these objects are, they can also be extraordinary, as they allow us to connect with the world beyond our skin.
"A History of Religion in 51/2 Objects" takes a fresh and much-needed approach to the study of that contentious yet vital area of human culture: religion. Arguing that religion must be understood in the first instance as deriving from rudimentary human experiences, from lived, embodied practices, S. Brent Plate asks us to put aside, for the moment, questions of belief and abstract ideas. Instead, beginning with the desirous, incomplete human body (symbolically evoked by "1/2"), he asks us to focus on five ordinary types of objects--stones, incense, drums, crosses, and bread--with which we connect in our pursuit of religious meaning and fulfillment.
As Plate considers each of these objects, he explores how the world's religious traditions have put each of them to different uses throughout the millennia. We learn why incense is used by Hindus at a celebration of the goddess Durga in Banaras, by Muslims at a wedding ceremony in West Africa, and by Roman Catholics at a Mass in upstate New York. Crosses are key not only to Christianity but to many Native American traditions; in the symbolic mythology of Peru's Misminay community, cruciform imagery stands for the general outlay of the cosmos. And stones, in the form of cairns, grave markers, and monuments, are connected with places of memory across the world.
"A History of Religion in 51/2 Objects" is a celebration of the materiality of religious life. Plate moves our understanding of religion away from the current obsessions with God, fundamentalism, and science--and toward the rich depths of "this "world, "this "body, "these "things. Religion, it turns out, has as much to do with our bodies as our beliefs. Maybe even more. "From the Hardcover edition."
Humans are needy. We need "things" objects, keepsakes, stuff, tokens, knickknacks, bits and pieces, junk, and treasure. We carry special objects in our pockets and purses, and place them on shelves in our homes and offices. As commonplace as these objects are, they can also be extraordinary, as they allow us to connect with the world beyond our skin.
"A History of Religion in 51/2 Objects" takes a fresh and much-needed approach to the study of that contentious yet vital area of human culture: religion. Arguing that religion must be understood in the first instance as deriving from rudimentary human experiences, from lived, embodied practices, S. Brent Plate asks us to put aside, for the moment, questions of belief and abstract ideas. Instead, beginning with the desirous, incomplete human body (symbolically evoked by "1/2"), he asks us to focus on five ordinary types of objects--stones, incense, drums, crosses, and bread--with which we connect in our pursuit of religious meaning and fulfillment.
As Plate considers each of these objects, he explores how the world's religious traditions have put each of them to different uses throughout the millennia. We learn why incense is used by Hindus at a celebration of the goddess Durga in Banaras, by Muslims at a wedding ceremony in West Africa, and by Roman Catholics at a Mass in upstate New York. Crosses are key not only to Christianity but to many Native American traditions; in the symbolic mythology of Peru's Misminay community, cruciform imagery stands for the general outlay of the cosmos. And stones, in the form of cairns, grave markers, and monuments, are connected with places of memory across the world.
"A History of Religion in 51/2 Objects" is a celebration of the materiality of religious life. Plate moves our understanding of religion away from the current obsessions with God, fundamentalism, and science--and toward the rich depths of "this "world, "this "body, "these "things. Religion, it turns out, has as much to do with our bodies as our beliefs. Maybe even more. "From the Hardcover edition."
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First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 23, 2017
Initially thinking that this would be a book about 5 (and 1/2) important singular religious objects, I was fascinated by the author's research and comprehensive narratives taking a look at how one concept/object can be found throughout history and worldwide to have religious connotations.
Stones, incense, drums, crosses and bread all have a much deeper and universal presence in our religious traditions than I realized. Consider "Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the town's name literally meaning "House of Bread." (pg 195) and you get a feel for the level of research, thoughtfulness, craft and care that went into writing this book.
Not just for religious scholars and not a religious treatise, this book is wonderful for arm chair philosophers, the curious and the thoughtful. I also think it would be helpful for artists, both visual artists and writers.
There is a pause one takes are you survey the world around you and think about tradition, touch points, faith and spirituality. It is like opening your eyes and ears to your soul for a moment, feeding it and listening to it.
Also loved this quote from D.H. Lawrence on the soul with his own credo, saying that he believes:
"That my soul is a dark forest.
That my known self will never be more than a clearing in the forest.
That gods, strange gods, come forth from the forest into the clearing of my known self, and then go back.
That I must have the courage to let them come and go."
--D.H.Lawrence
Stones, incense, drums, crosses and bread all have a much deeper and universal presence in our religious traditions than I realized. Consider "Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the town's name literally meaning "House of Bread." (pg 195) and you get a feel for the level of research, thoughtfulness, craft and care that went into writing this book.
Not just for religious scholars and not a religious treatise, this book is wonderful for arm chair philosophers, the curious and the thoughtful. I also think it would be helpful for artists, both visual artists and writers.
There is a pause one takes are you survey the world around you and think about tradition, touch points, faith and spirituality. It is like opening your eyes and ears to your soul for a moment, feeding it and listening to it.
Also loved this quote from D.H. Lawrence on the soul with his own credo, saying that he believes:
"That my soul is a dark forest.
That my known self will never be more than a clearing in the forest.
That gods, strange gods, come forth from the forest into the clearing of my known self, and then go back.
That I must have the courage to let them come and go."
--D.H.Lawrence
Displaying 1 of 1 review