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UID:9@buddhiststudies.utoronto.ca
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20170330T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20170330T170000
DTSTAMP:20170313T180851Z
URL:https://buddhiststudies.utoronto.ca/events/lectureerick-white/
SUMMARY:Lecture:Erick White
DESCRIPTION:The religious landscape of modern Thailand is filled with a wid
 e variety of non-monastic religious virtuosos advancing unconventional vis
 ions of Buddhist piety and devotion. Professional spirit mediums are one e
 xample of this religious ferment and cultural creativity. Professional med
 iums claim to be possessed by virtuous divinities from the upper heights o
 f the Buddhist pantheon who are endowed with great merit and virtue. Thai 
 actors and institutions outside the subculture of professional mediums\, h
 owever\, are often dubious about such claims. In this talk I will explore 
 the claims and counterclaims of these different groups\, exploring how the
 se debates illuminate changing ideas about moral propriety\, sacral potenc
 y\, charismatic authority and the practice of piety in contemporary Thai B
 uddhism.\n \nErick White is a visiting professor in the Southeast Asian Pr
 ogram at Cornell University. His research explores the cultural politics o
 f popular religion in Thailand\, the subculture and religious careers of B
 angkok professional spirit mediums\, and the socio-cultural dynamics under
 lying their distinctive claims to Buddhist charismatic authority and legit
 imacy. He is especially interested in the use of practice theory\, social 
 network theory\, field theory\, and social movement theory in the study of
  Buddhist beliefs\, rituals\, organizations\, and communities. He is the a
 uthor of "Fraudulent and Dangerous Popular Religiosity in the Public Spher
 e: Moral Campaigns to Prohibit\, Reform and Demystify Thai Spirit Mediums\
 ," "Contemporary Buddhism and Magic\," "The Institutional Dynamics of the 
 Contemporary Thai Sangha - A New Research Agenda\," and other publications
 .\n\n\nRelated Reading Group\nContemporary Buddhism and Magic\nat McMaster
  (University Hall 122) on Friday\, March 31 from 4-6pm.
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://buddhiststudies.utoronto.ca/wp-content/u
 ploads/2016/10/ewhite.jpg
CATEGORIES:Lecture,Numata Program
LOCATION:Jackman Humanities Building\, Rm 317\, 170 St George St\, Toronto\
 , ON - Ontario\, M5R2M8\, Canada
GEO:43.667732;-79.400261
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=170 St George St\, Toronto\
 , ON - Ontario\, M5R2M8\, Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Jackman Humani
 ties Building\, Rm 317:geo:43.667732,-79.400261
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