Religions in Play: Games, Rituals, and Virtual WorldsPhilippe Bornet, Maya Burger Often dismissed as "not serious", the notion of play has nevertheless been at the centre 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. Philippe Bornet, Dr. Phil., born in 1977, is Lecturer in the Study of Religion at the Faculty of Lettres of the University of Lausanne, with focus on the history of interrelations between India and Europe. Maya Burger is Professor of Indian Studies and History of Religions at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lausanne, Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations. |
Contents
Philippe Bornet and Maya Burger | 7 |
Philippe Bornet | 15 |
of Spains Law on Gambling Houses | 23 |
Valérie Cangemi and Alain Corbellari | 49 |
Philippe Bornet | 61 |
Maya Burger | 83 |
Maya Burger | 117 |
6 | 132 |
Reflections on the Nature of Ritual | 161 |
Ute Hüsken | 177 |
Florence Pasche Guignard | 197 |
Michael J Zogry | 221 |
Oliver Steffen | 249 |
Fabian PerliniPfister | 275 |
Julian Kücklich | 295 |
Daria PezzoliOlgiati | 309 |
Common terms and phrases
activities Alfonso aspects Avatar backgammon bingo board games Book of Games Buddhist Caillois century chance cheating chess Christian computer games concept context cultural dados described destiny dice games digital games dimension divination divinatory dolls Dungeons Dungeons & Dragons elements example festival fiction Figure film football gambling game and religion game play gamespace girls gods Hindu hit points Homo Ludens Huizinga human Hüsken imitation Indian Jones juegos karma karmic Kolu ludic ludic practices MacAloon magical Mahābhārata means medieval narrative NIRVANA Olympic oracle cards Ordenamiento origins of chess Partidas performed perspective play and games play and ritual player character playful priests question refer religious toys role role-playing games rules sacred sacrifice samsāra Siete Partidas simulation social specific sport study of religions suertes symbols tafurerias Tantric Tarot Tarot of Marseille temple Tibetan tion traditions Varadarāja Vedic virtual worlds Zogry