Synopsis:
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.
About the Author:
Philippe Bornet est assistant et doctorant en histoire comparee des religions a l'Universite de Lausanne.
Maya Burger enseigne l'histoire des religions et le hindi a l'Universite de Lausanne (Suisse). Son domaine de specialisation est l'hindouisme medieval et moderne. C'est dans ce domaine qu'elle a surtout publie, recemment: La perception hindoue des elements / The Hindu Perception of the Elements. Studia Religiosa Helvetica, Jahrbuch 2000. Berne: Peter Lang (en co-edition avec P. Schreiner).
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