Approaching the rasa-lila of 'great men': interlinking Western 'intuitive' theologies with traditions of Bengal in the Brahmo Samaj
Among contemporary sociologists who critically analyze the specific structure and dynamics of current or ‘late-modern’ societies, it is very common to refer to processes of increasing individualization as an explanation for larger social trends. Presuming a Protestant Christian genealogy for process...
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| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
[2015]
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| In: |
Religion
Year: 2015, Volume: 45, Issue: 3, Pages: 451-476 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bengalis
/ Brāhma samāj
/ Bhakti
/ Religion
/ Individualization
/ Colonialism
/ Transcendentalism
/ History 1828-1880
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| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AG Religious life; material religion AX Inter-religious relations BK Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism KBM Asia TJ Modern history |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Among contemporary sociologists who critically analyze the specific structure and dynamics of current or ‘late-modern’ societies, it is very common to refer to processes of increasing individualization as an explanation for larger social trends. Presuming a Protestant Christian genealogy for processes of individualization they tend to underemphasize the extent to which modern constellations are indebted in various ways to imperialism and the colonial encounter. To approach the complicated issue of encounter and mutual interferences, first an understanding of the categories involved in the interaction from within the traditions of the colonized is necessary. Only then will we be able to determine the way in which concepts of the colonizers were interpreted, understood, and appropriated. This essay aims to show that links were drawn between the global discourse on an experiential approach to religion, emphasizing the ‘Self,' and regional Vaishnava bhakti traditions of Bengal in the Bharatbarsiya Brahmo Samaj. This phase of increasing religious individualization with its focus on reliance on the ‘Self’ also contributed to preparing the ground for nationalistic readings of Indian traditions. |
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| ISSN: | 0048-721X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/0048721X.2015.1024037 |