New Faces of God in Latin America

This is a historically infused study of the intersection of local encounters with global religion (Christianity) in Latin America. Using a mixture of deep archival research and ethnographic methods, this book discusses how everyday people inscribe supernormal spirit power (in a variety of guises) with the ability to provide alternative sources of authority and validate “otros saberes” (other knowledges or epistemologies) in the context of specific cultures to create order and meaning in a chaotic late-capitalist universe. This work is about emerging forms of “new” Christianity in Latin America—a Christianity that is as utilitarian as it is miraculous and as quotidian as it is supernatural. It is “new” in that it is innately modern in a very specific sense, directly empowering believers with a repertoire of strategies to survive, even thrive, in a challenging and often hostile modern world.

Introduction

This work is a historically infused study of the intersection of local encounters with global religion (Christianity) in Latin America. Using a mixture of deep archival research and ethnographic methods, this book discusses how everyday people inscribe supernormal spirit power (in a variety of guises) with the ability to provide alternative sources of authority and validate “otros saberes” (other knowledges or epistemologies) within the context of specific cultures to bring about ...

NYAWA SUNGAI, MODEL SINERGI BERBASIS KEARIFAN LOKAL BANJAR DALAM MELESTARIKAN NILAI-NILAI DAN SITUS SEJARAH DI KAWASAN KUIN, BANJARMASIN

ABSTRACTNYAWA SUNGAI, A MODEL OF SYNERGY BASED ON BANJAR LOCALWISDOM IN CONSIDERING VALUES AND HISTORY SITESIN KUIN REGION, BANJARMASINBy:Fathurrahman, Muhammad Fitri, Nurul Fauziyah(History Education Studies Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin)The background of the writing is the preservation of values and historical sites as a cultural heritage in Kuin Region, Banjarmasin is still 'dominated' by the government. Then the low participation of the community plays an active role in preserving the historical and cultural heritage heritage. It takes a model of local wisdom-based synergy to manage the area of historical sites as part of the Thousand River namely the Nyawa Sungai. Nyawa Sungai is the local wisdom of the Banjar people to keep the river and preserve the heritage of cultural heritage built on the coastal river.Writing the paper aims to describe Nyawa Sungai as a model of synergy based on local wisdom of Banjar to foster and motivate the community to participate in preserving the values and historical sites in Kuin, Banjarmasin.This research includes descriptive research that presents a complete picture of the social setting or is intended for exploration and clarification of a phenomenon or social reality, by describing a number of variables regarding the problem and the unit under study between the phenomena tested.The results showed that the model of synergy based on local wisdom, Nyawa Sungai can be a solution to increase the participation of all tourism components to manage Kuin tourism area. Then become a communication medium so that awaken positive synergy to seek for productive economic business opportunity for the prosperity of society.Conclusion, Nyawa Sungai is an element of local wisdom in Banjar society. River River synergy model can be utilized as spirit power for all components driving drivers.Keywords: Nyawa Sungai, synergy, local wisdom.

Figurines and Figural Art of the Northwest Coast

Similarities between the earliest Northwest Coast art and ethnographic art are traced regionally from 2000 bc into the late nineteenth century. The earliest known figural art is in the Fraser River–Gulf Islands region and consists of human and animal images with ribs and backbones, joint marks, and protruding tongues, and masks. These motifs are present on ritual spoons used for feeding the dead, probably as part of an early form of the memorial potlatch, and are related to beliefs in human–animal transformation, regeneration from bone, spirit power, and shamanism. These same motifs are found later in adjacent regions as parts of ritual objects, tools, and utensils. Art declined in the late pre-contact period in the region where it is known earliest, but fluoresced later on the lower Columbia River, particularly on the northern Northwest Coast where the late classic interlocked style developed and has continued to evolve today.

Tillich on Divine Power and Ultimate Meaning in Human History

Paul Tillich’s concept of God opposes the “interventionist” model of traditional Western theism. This paper attempts to determine whether, and in what sense, for Tillich, God may be said to act specifically to influence the course of historical events. It is argued that his concept of “Spiritual power” provides his answer. In clarification the concepts of “spirit,” “power,” “meaning,” “vocation,” “kairos,” and “the renunciation of power” are explored. According to Tillich, the vocations of specific social groups are empowered by divine power, providing both gift and task. For Christians the vocation of Jesus the Christ to proclaim the coming Kingdom of God as the ultimate meaning of history provides the criterion by which concrete vocations may be judged. God acts by providing meaning, which must be chosen and achieved.