Spiritual Translucency and Pornocratic Anthropology: Waiwai and Western Interpretations of a Religious Experience
Anthropology and Humanism December 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1525/ahu.2007.32.2.192 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that anthropological description and interpretation of sacred communion inevitably profane the mystery of religious experience, making the success of such processes an obscene offence. |
Abstract
This short article attempts to work within the craft of anthropology but, ultimately, seeks to do so against its historical intent to objectify. It describes and interprets a personal experience of sacred communion. In doing so, however, it argues that the success of any such processes eventually results in an obscene offence against the very experience of religious mystery.