‘Not so much thought out as danced out’: expanding philosophy of religion in the light of Candomblé

Religions often prioritize ritual activities, including dance, over intellectual matters, a point anticipated by anthropologist R. R. Marett's claim that certain forms of religion are 'not so much thought out as danced out.' This article philosophically examines the Afro-Brazilian tradition of Candomblé as an exemplary case, focusing on dance as a 'gestural language' and a form of 'embodied knowledge.' The author argues that these concepts enrich understanding of religion's dance dimension and broaden conceptions of communication and knowledge in both religious and non-religious contexts.

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Abstract

Abstract When the anthropologist R. R. Marett affirmed that certain forms of religion are ‘not so much thought out as danced out’ (1914, xxxi), he was, in effect, anticipating a criticism that has been levelled at philosophy of religion in recent decades – namely, the criticism that this branch of philosophy has frequently underplayed the extent to which religions often prioritize ritual activities (including dance) over intellectual matters. Taking Marett's observation as a point of departure, this article reflects philosophically on the Afro-Brazilian tradition of Candomblé as an exemplary case. Special attention is given to the themes of (a) dance as a mode of ‘gestural language’ (Wafer 1991, 178) and (b) ‘embodied knowledge’ (Daniel 2005). It is argued that these themes supply opportunities to enrich our understanding not only of a significant dimension of religion – that is, the dimension of dance – but also of what communication and knowledge can amount to in both religious and non-religious contexts.