The 12th and last workshop in this series focused on "Ritual and modernity in Buddhist contexts" (24 May 2016). For details of this and previous sessions, see : http://himalayas.hypotheses.org/2246.
As a conceptual backdrop to this workshop, one finds theories of modernity and disenchantment and their crucial correctives : theories of enchanted modernity, scholarship on prosperity religions, and the like. It is also essential in this workshop to recognize the diverse nature of what we call “ritual” : the above-mentioned theoretical discussions have focused primarily on rituals of this-worldly efficacy and potency—magical rituals, if one wants—but the question of other forms of ritual, such as mass collective religious rituals, and their own possible “modern” specificities (as addressed here in M. Kapstein’s talk), also need to be addressed.
As a follow-up to these workshops, a research seminar will be held sometime in 2017 (Date to be announced).
For any questions, please contact Nicolas Sihlé : nicolas.sihle [at] gmail.com