Academic literature on the topic 'Syncretism (synthesis)'

AbstractBy first examining the academic, theoretical discourse that takes up the concept of syncretism, and then looking at its application in a Japanese case study, the argument put forward in this paper looks at a) how the usage of the term syncretism in cultural studies has become disconnected from its theoretical framework, b) how syncretism is not synthesis and c) how, within the process of acculturation, syncretism is a necessary theoretical concept that demands academic attention. In order to demonstrate clearly the viability of the concept of syncretism, this article explicates characteristics of syncretistic patterns in a case study. What becomes evident is that the concept of syncretism has emerged as a powerful analytic tool in the study of religions.

AbstractOnce defined as a "mishmash of religions," syncretism has been referred to as a meaningless, derogatory and essentialistic term which should be banned from the fields of religio-historical research. Written in defence of the category, this article provides a review of problematic aspects and recent attempts to deal with them. Particularly useful in this concern, anthropologists Rosalind Shaw and Charles Stewart have suggested a demarcation between "syncretism" (as the politics of religious synthesis) and "anti-syncretism" (as attempts to protect religious boundaries). Taking their tools as a starting point, this article discusses shifting tendencies in the history of Theosophy. The Theosophical Society started out, it is argued, as a hyper-syncretistic religion, while at the same time promoting anti-syncretism on behalf of other religions. More recently, these strategies have been replaced by efforts to protect boundaries and demarcate its Blavatskian roots.

Nearly a dozen and a half different humanities, natural and technical sciences have chosen the city as a subject of research and, within their subject areas, have developed theoretical approaches to defining the livesustaining activities of the city. All spheres of the city’s existence are interconnected, at least to some extent, by a complex system of city legal relationships and are combined into a single complex, dynamic, controversial, but rather stable structure. In other words, we can, by means of law, investigate the whole (syncretism) of various scientific approaches to the analysis and description of the system of life of the city and its inhabitants. The author investigates various approaches to the concept of syncretism, including the essence of syncretism in legal context. The concept of syncretism is applied to the city in order to present it as a legal framework linking the knowledge of the city of various humanities into the system of social relations in order to explore the main spheres of the population’s life. The paper investigates some basic provisions of the theories of the city of such humanities as history, sociology, philosophy, psychology, economics, urban studies and political science as a matter of law. The purpose of the study is to form a new, comprehensive legal approach to the understanding of the essence of urban life and urbanization processes within the framework of legal urbanology with due regard to the totality of theoretical and practical knowledge about cities accumulated in some humanities. This study implements an interdisciplinary approach based on the use of sources from different fields of scientific knowledge on the basis of general scientific and private scientific research methods (analysis, synthesis, deduction, hypothetical, statistical, comparative-legal, and prognostic methods). Analysis of legal aspects of the main approaches of some humanities to the study of the city shows their syncretic character and the possibility of forming a generalized legal theory of the city within the framework of legal urbanology as a branch in legal science on the basis of fundamental and applied interdisciplinary studies of the city.

In the article, the author accomplishes analyzing the poem “Dolphinarium” by Vladimir Aristov, in which the poet expresses his search for “the space of general likeness” and a common language, a common corporality. He denominated the work in that vein a concept of “idem-forma”, which means and a way of worldview and a special technique of creating poems and a method in analyzing artistic texts. Such a concept correlates with the concept of metabola, which was introduced by M.N. Epstein for analysis of the metarealism image structure and its poetic language. In V. Aristov’s poetics metabola is one of the elements of idem-forma, which expresses relationships of syncretism, synthesis, and identity at the trope level. While the poet only proposes the term “idem-forma” in the early 21st century, the image structure of the poem “The Dolphinarium” shows us that V. Aristov searches on that count all his literary way. The specific features of that technique usage in the poem are the synthesis at the chronotope and focalization levels, the subject neo-syncretism and the images-metabolas, expressing both the re-semantisation of details in the Soviet life, and the synthesis of worlds – the human and natural, the bodily and linguistic.

The article devoted to the genesis of the synthesis of the arts. The main research method is the cultural-historical approach, which allows considering this phenomenon in a historical perspective. Four stages were identified in the development of the arts: the primary syncretism of arts in primitive cultures; the separation of certain types of art and their acquisition of independence; the synthesis of the arts; the postmodern synesthesia of arts. The main ways of interaction of arts are determined: dominance, fusion, inclusion and juxtaposition. The authors of the article concluded that globalization, the development of technology, new types of communication contribute to the further complication and transformation of the synthesis of the arts, and such concepts close to it as “pluralism”, “interaction of arts”, “synesthesia” and “intermediality”. Broad prospects are opening up for the study of intermediality and multimedia as new heterogeneous semiotic systems.

Text in Afrikaans<br>Summary in Afrikaans and English<br>This study is an attempt to analyse and describe syncretism as an encompassing phenomenon from a historical-educational perspective. In recent times, the ideas of globalization, the influence of modern science, as well as certain ideas concerning modern education, are closely related to the manifestation of syncretism. A study of various exemplars from the past and present disclosed the essences of syncretism, thus unveiling the religious growth-motives that underlie syncretism, which also played an important role in the development of Western civilization and the modem world. The multi-faith idea (the idea of unity and synthesis), the idea of secularization, and the idea of relativity, were identified as prominent characteristics of syncretism. The identification and analysis of the essences of syncretism and supporting religious principles. become possible when syncretism is set in opposition to the Biblical and reformational thought processes. Bible-based education provides an alternative to syncretism in a fast changing and post-modern world. It gives perspective on the instruction to people to care for and develop God's creation. The intrinsic characteristics of Bible-based education were used as evaluation criteria in an attempt to expose syncretism. The characteristics of Bible-based education which also provide a framework for establishing a corrective to the problematic educational situation, are the following: • the acknowledgement of the Holy Trinity as central to man's existence; • the Bible/Holy Scriptures as essential for a Christian world and life view; • the essence of a Christian anthropology; • education as the fulfilment of God's covenant with man; • the directive role of Bible-based norms; • the transfer of culture through education • Biblical cosmology as an expression of the Christian faith; • the reformational aspect of Bible-based education. In the evaluation of syncretism, it was discovered that the relationship between man and the Holy Trinity would be negatively affected if the Christian religion were not regarded as the only source of truth concerning the salvation of man and the true meaning of life. The influence of syncretism necessitates a reformational and antithetical approach, which constantly emphasises the importance of the educator's role in the teaching and education of the child in the modem educational system.<br>In hierdie studie word gepoog om die sinkretisme as omvattende verskynsel vanuit 'n histories-opvoedkundige perspektief te ontleed en te omskryf. Die globaliseringsverskynsel, die inwerking van die modeme wetenskap en bepaalde idees in die moderne onderwys hang saam met die manifestasie van die sinkretisme in die eietyd. In 'n eksemplariese verlede- en eietydse studie is grondig ondersoek ingestel na tendense en verskynsels wat die wesenlike van die sinkretisme openbaar. Religieuse grondmotiewe in die Westerse beskawingsontwikkeling het 'n wesenlike bydrae gelewer tot die opkoms van die sinkretisme van die moderne wereld. Die wesenskenmerke wat prominent in die eksemplariese ondersoek betreffende die realisering van die sinkretisme gemanifesteer het, was die multireligieuse/intergeloofsidee en sintesedenke (eenheidsidee), die sekulariseringsverskynsel en die relatiwiteitsverskynsel. Die identifisering en ontleding van die wesenskenmerke van die sinkretisme en ondersteunende religieuse grondmotiewe word moontlik indien die sinkretisme teenoor die Bybelse en reformatoriese denkhouding gestel word. Bybelgefundeerde onderwys bied 'n altematief vir die sinkretisme in 'n snel veranderende en postmodeme wereld en gee perspektief aan die mens se beheersingsopdrag in die skeppingswerklikheid. Die wesenskenmerke van Bybelgefundeerde onderwys is as evalueringskriteria aangewend in 'n poging om die sinkretisme in sy ware gedaante te ontbloot. Die wesenskenmerke wat terselfdertyd die raamwerk vir die daarstel van 'n korrektief vir die problematiese onderwyssituasie bied, is: • God Drie-enig as sentrale uitgangspunt; • die Bybel/Heilige Skrif as essensieel vir 'n Christelike lewens en wereldbeskouing; • die Christelike mensbeeld (antropologie) as voorwaarde vir Bybel-gefundeerde onderwys • onderwys en opvoeding as die bevestiging van God se verbond met die mens; • die rigtinggewende rol van Bybelgefundeerde norme; • kultuuroordrag en Bybelgefundeerde onderwys; • die Bybelse skeppingsleer as 'n uitdrukking van die Christelike geioof; • die refonnatoriese/gereformeerde inslag van Bybelgefundeerde onder­wys In die evaluering van die sinkretisme is bevind dat die mens se grondverhouding met God Drie-enig aangetas word indien die Christelike godsdiens nie as die enigste bron van waarheid betreffende die mens se redding en toekomsverwagting beskou word nie. Die inwerking van die sinkretisme noodsaak in die moderne onderwyssisteem 'n reformatoriese en antitetiese denkhouding wat die mens deurlopend opskerp ten opsigte van sy rol as opvoeder in die opvoeding en onderwys van die kind.<br>Educational Studies<br>D. Ed. (History of Education)

Sociological explanations for human conduct usually place major ontological and epistemological emphasis upon either discursive or material relations without ever establishing or adequately specifying the validity of this dichotomy. Early texts by the Critical Realist philosopher Roy Bhaskar address this forced separation by creating an integrated ontological and epistemological field that provides a more detailed and precise theoretical ordering to agents, objects, and entities. Undertaking a developmental critique of Bhaskar’s arguments, this thesis extends Critical Realism’s role as theoretical ‘underlabourer’ and creates an expanded theoretical framework that balances discursive and material accounts. Utilising the sophisticated analyses of the structure and operation of discourses found in the work of Michel Foucault alongside the innovative arguments for aleatory materialism developed by Louis Althusser, a critique is established that shows discursive, material, and social relations to be complex, immanent, and, importantly, mutually constitutive. In each theory three core concepts of events, emergence, and the extra-discursive are shown to not only be present but also to operate as the main means of explaining social change. The result of integrating Critical Realism, Foucault, and Althusser in this sympathetic but non-syncretic form is the generation of a non-reductionist materialism combined with discursive relations. On this basis, social change is shown to be the result of restructured discursive and material relations of which human agents are only one part. The thesis provides an illustration of the theoretical argument with an empirical component which examines the formation and decline of the British nuclear industry between its inception in the early 1950s to the year 2000. The conclusion is that the form taken by nuclear energy is not entirely determined by any single one of political, economic, or scientific forces but is, instead, the product of multiple and complex interactions of immanent discursive and material relations that are, importantly, mutually reinforcing.<br>Thesis (Ph.D, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-27 12:38:25.909

This thesis finds out how the concepts of the divine in African Traditional Religions are similar or different, particularly in Ghana and Lesotho and in other parts of Africa in general. In doing so, the researcher combines literature review of eminent scholars who have studied the religious and socio-cultural life of the people of Ghana and Lesotho in particular and Africa in general, with personal field study through dissemination of questionnaires, interviews and personal observations. Through this approach he finds out the various religious phenomena that reveal the concept of the divine in the two countries concerned and in other African countries through comparison of their worships and socio-cultural activities in order to come out with the differences and the similarities that may call for synthesis of the concept in Africa. He also finds out how the concept of the divine in Africa has been influenced by foreign religions and culture particularly Christianity, Islam, Western culture and Education. And how their services and disservices have affected the concept of the divine in Africa. The researcher also looks at the issue of monotheism as against polytheism in African religious perspective to find out whether the African Traditional Religions are polytheistic, monotheistic or monolatry. The study reveals that the concept of the divine, in the two countries under study, ends up in one Supreme deity-God- .but that the approach to the concept is not always the same. There are some differences and similarities, which also prevail in other African Traditional Religions and in Christianity. There is also a look into whether the term "African Traditional Religions" is appropriate for the religious belief and practices found in Africa, and whether a synthesis of religious practices in Africa would be possible in future. In the final analysis the study reveals that the African concept of the divine as pertains in the two countries is not different from that of Christianity and Islam but that the approach to the concept differs due to differences in the perception of the divine through sociocultural and religious milieus.<br>Religious Studies & Arabic<br>D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)

This article discusses the recent historiography of religion from the traditional field of church history. The emphasis shifts from the institutional and official to the quotidian and informal. The stress on popular religiosity comes across in the debate over syncretism discussed in the first section of the article. Did Catholicism absorb African and indigenous beliefs, in practice if not theologically, to form a sort of Latin American spiritual stew, as the Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz once put it? Did this synthesis become more Christian with time? Did non-European belief systems survive relatively unadulterated, particularly in the understanding of the divine rather than form, as some revisionists proposed? Popular religiosity also occupies a central position in the historical debate about secularism, the nature of millenarianism, and the spread of Protestantism during the national period.

This chapter explores how Maori innovated on the music and religion that European colonialists brought to Aotearoa/New Zealand, constructing a synthesis that transcended both the European and the native. For Maori, Christianity was conceived within a framework of “cultural economy,” in which cultural misunderstandings served as resources in a process of cultural selection involving the preservation of some elements and rejection of others, to enhance power among Maori. The chapter focuses on the Ratana Church, founded by the visionary prophet T. W. Ratana in the early 20th century. Ratana purposefully used music and performance in forging his syncretic brand of Christianity, creating new repertoires aligned with his project of finding a place for Maori in the new nation. This vision continues to be celebrated each year at the powhiri (ceremony of encounter), where Aotearoa New Zealand is performed through the confluence of diverse cultures, traditions, and worldviews.

Chapter 4 provides an analysis of the patterns of default verb movement identified in Chapters 2 and 3. First, it shows that the attested macro-typologies are not accidental choices of the languages, but rather stem from a compensatory mechanism between syntax and morphology in licensing the Tense, Aspect, and Mood (TAM) interpretation of the verb, whereby verb movement only occurs in cases of poor paradigmatic instantiation of TAM, that is in cases when TAM chief values are not expressed by synthetic and non-syncretic paradigms. Second, a technical implementation of this proposal is offered which allows the modelling of this instance of variation into a parameter hierarchy, along the lines envisaged by the Rethinking Comparative Syntax research group. To conclude, the data from Brazilian Portuguese are assessed against the expectations of the proposed mechanism.

The study of science, technology, and social movements could develop as a syncretism of concepts from the fields of SMS and STS, but I have argued that the research field requires its own conceptual toolkit that builds on and modifies the frameworks of the existing fields. To this end, I have suggested various bridges that synthesize the empirical research and conceptual developments of the two fields into a more coherent whole....

This chapter is the first of the historical case studies, which are presented over the course of the book in approximate chronological order, and focuses on late-eighteenth-century frontier Pentecostalism, particularly in the Cumberland Plateau. It employs period sources, such as first-person descriptions, architecture, and cultural geography, to explore the phenomenon of ecstatic movement in frontier worship--the dance idiom called, in the period, “the jerks”--as revealing syncretic European-African-Native body vocabularies. It establishes an important theme throughout the book, namely the importance of collision between diverse immigrant and indigenous groups, especially in border or marginal geographic or socioeconomic circumstances, in the synthesis of movement and sound that yielded American performance idioms.

This article studies the academic context in which Cartesianism was absorbed in Germany in the mid-seventeenth century. It focuses on the role of Johann Clauberg (1622-1665), first rector of the new University of Duisburg, in adjusting scholastic tradition to accommodate Descartes’s philosophy, thereby making the latter suitable for teaching in universities. It highlights contextual motivations behind Clauberg’s synthesis of Cartesianism with the existing framework such as a pedagogical interest in Descartes as offering a simpler method, and a systematic concern to disentangle philosophy from theological disputes. These motivations are brought into view by situating Clauberg in the closely-linked contexts of Protestant educational reforms, and debates around the proper relation between philosophy and theology. In this background, it argues that Clauberg nevertheless retains an Aristotelian conception of ontology for purely philosophical reasons, specifically, to give objective foundations to Descartes’s metaphysics of substance. In conclusion, Clauberg should not be assimilated either to Aristotelianism or to Cartesianism or, indeed, to syncretic labels such as ‘Cartesian Scholastic’. Instead, he should be read as transforming both schools by drawing on a variety of elements in order to address issues local to the academic milieu of his time.