Spirit possession and cultural innovation: the case of two Japanese femane religious leaders
Revista de Antropologia July 3, 2020 DOI: 10.11606/2179-0892.ra.1995.111442 via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractReligion is often seen as a conservative force, but this article argues it can also be transformative. Examining the lives of two Japanese religious founders, Miki Nakayama (1789-1887) and Nao Deguchi (1836-1918), the author discusses three levels of religious experience: personality reintegration, change in social status, and the transformed person's ability to influence or alter the sociocultural system. The key point is that special states of consciousness, such as possession, dreams, and hallucinations, create the possibility for such change, rather than the change itself being the primary focus.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Miki Nakayama and Nao Deguchi, two Japanese religious founders |
| Keywords | Religion Japan Possession |
| Key finding | Special states of consciousness like possession can create the possibility for personal and social transformation, challenging the view of religion as solely conservative. |
Abstract
lt's usual to consider religion as a conservative institution. Nonetheless , this article shows that it may also have a great transfoming potential. The history of two Japanese religious founders, Miki Nakayama (1789-1887) and Nao Deguchi (1836-1918) is taken to discuss three leve is of religious experience: (I) the person' s personality reintegration level, (II) the person's social status change, and (III) this "transformed" person's chance of interfering or changing lhe sociocultural system. More than the change itself what really matters here is the possibility of change created by special states of consciousness (possession, oneiric visions, hallucinations, etc.)