Religions in play games, rituals, and virtual worlds
4e de couv.: Often dismissed as "not serious", the notion of play has nevertheless been at the center of classical theories of religion and ritual (Huizinga, Caillois, Turner, Staal, etc.). What can be retained of those theories for the contemporary study of religions? Can a study of "play" or "game" bring new perspectives for the study of religions? The book deals with the history of games and their relation to religions, the links between divination and games, the relations between sport and ritual, the pedagogical functions of games in religious education, and the interaction between games, media and religions. Richly illustrated, the book contributes to the study of religions, to ritual, game and media studies, and addresses an academic as well as a general public
CULTuREL, 2, Bd. 2
Conference papers and proceedings
351 S. Ill. 21 cm
9783290220105, 3290220109
1333415491
Preface / Philippe Bornet and Maya Burger. Part 1
Ludic practices and religion in history. Introduction: games and religion in history / Philippe Bornet. Organizing the Greed for Gain: Alfonso X of Spain's Law on Gambling Houses / Urlich Schädler. In search of playfulm Middle Ages: from jousting knights to modern reconstructions / Valérie Cangemi and Alain Corbellari. Of games and civilizations: W. Jones, H. Cox, and J. Mill on the Indian origins of chess / Philippe Bornet. Part 2
Chance, game and religion. Introduction: Climb the ladder, draw the future, hit the bingo: randomness, divination and luck / Maya Burger. Simulating liberation: the Tibetan Buddhist game "Ascending the [spiritual] levels" / Jens Schlieter. Drawing cards, playing destiny: karma and play in new divinatory practices / Maya Burger. Swiss bingo: an anthropological journey into the realm of chance / Thierry Wendling. Part 3
Play and ritual. Introduction : Relating play and ritual / Kathryn McClymond. Can there be play in ritual?: reflections on the nature of ritual / Johannes Bronkhorst. Trainting, play, and blurred distinctions: on imitation and "real" ritual / Ute Hüsken. "Learn and play the holy way": religious toys and dolls in the construction of religious gender identity and values / Florence Pasche Guignard. Good neighbors are hard to find: play, sport, ritual, and conceptual impasse / Michael J. Zogry. Part 4
Virtual world and games. Introduction: Approaches to digital games in the study of religions / Oliver Steffen. Religion from scholarly worlds to digital games: the case of Risen. Oliver Steffen. Philosophers with clubs: negotiating cosmology and worldviews in dungeons & dragons / Fabian Perlini-Pfister. Breaking the magic circle: ludic and deludic practices in video game play / Julian Kücklich. Games in film, film as play: religion and virtual worlds in cinema / Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati
Symposium "Homo ludens: play, culture and religion", University of Lausanne, June 2010