RELIGIOUS COMMODIFICATIONS IN ASIA
Workshop on
RELIGIOUS COMMODIFICATIONS IN ASIA:
THE RE-ENCHANTMENT OF GLOBALIZING WORLD?
24-25 November 2005
venue
University Scholars Programme Conference Room
National University of Singapore
Blk ADM, Level 7 (near Central Library)
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/conf2005/commodification.htm
Religious commodification or the intersection between certain religious
traditions and market economy is nothing new, nor of recent origin. It
has long been a notable phenomenon which students of religions have
observed worldwide. Some classical theorists argue that with the rise of
modern capitalism and more rationalized organization of social life,
religious influences should be in decline. However, studies by
contemporary sociologists and anthropologists in the past few decades
have indicated otherwise. Traditional as well as newly-emerged religious
practices have not only survived the penetration of market economy, but
also been able to produce some meaningful forms and messages of rituals
and beliefs to modern and postmodern life.
Taking experiences of East and Southeast Asian countries, one could
argue that wherever capitalism grows as modes of modern production and
consumption, religion also flourishes. The rapid industrialization in
post-Second World War Japan gave birth to phenomenal new religious
movements, where everyday life frustration and tension were met with
promises of religious messiahs and magical practices. In newly
industrialized countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, the
revivals of traditional as well as new religious practices are also
intensively reported, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.
This workshop aims to explore complex and diverse intersections between
religious practices and global capitalist forces in Asian contexts
(e.g., East, South and Southeast Asia). It plans to bring together
international scholars working on Asian religions to discuss and explore
the "big picture" of religious commoditization in this region. How have
"world-historic religions" (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and
Islam) and other living religious traditions (e.g., Chinese and other
indigenous spirit cults) adjusted themselves to cope with the onslaughts
of late capitalist, market-oriented economy? To what extent has
transnational capitalism in various forms and at different levels
altered and reshaped the Asian religious landscapes? What has global
capitalism done to Asian religious traditions? What are the social
processes and contexts leading to the emergence of 'prosperity
religions'? What are the responses from local and transnational
religious communities to the evasive intrusion of commoditization? What
are the emerging voices, identities, or other complications out of a
selection of prosperity religions in Asia? How do traditional religious
traditions as well as premodern magic and superstition persist and
survive the onslaught of modernization and globalization forces?
For more information, please click the following:
* Programme <http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/conf2005/pg_commodifications.pdf>
* Abstract <http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/conf2005/abs_commodifications.pdf>
REGISTRATION
Observers are welcome to attend the conference, with no registration
fee. However, limited spaces are available. If you wish to attend as an
observer, please kindly email your name, affiliation / organization,
contact number and email address to Ms Valerie Yeo at ariyeov@nus.edu.sg
by Monday, 14 November 2005.
For enquiries, please contact:
Organisers:
Bryan Turner (aribst@nus.edu.sg)
Vineeta Sinha (socvs@nus.edu.sg)
Pattana Kitiarsa (aripk@nus.edu.sg)
Secretariats:
Manjit Kaur (arimkks@nus.edu.sg)
Valerie Yeo (ariyeov@nus.edu.sg)
Asia Research Institute
National University of Singapore
AS7, Level 4, 5 Arts Link
Singapore 117570
Tel: (65) 6516 5279
Fax: (65) 6779 1428