BOOK of ABSTRACTS XXTh WORld COngReSS InTeRnATIOnAl ...

Anttonen, Veikko – University of Turku, Finland
veiant@utu.fi
sacrality of tHe self, of society and of tHe
Human Body – tHe case of a finnisH
transgender Pastor
I shall discuss in my paper the case of a Finnish
transgender pastor who in 2008, at the age of 54,
underwent sex reassignment surgery. The pastor’s
decision to change sex and become a woman gave rise to
heated debates within the Lutheran Church as well as in
the media. Shortly after returning to her work as a
pastor, she decided to resign from her office for she felt
that she has lost the trust of her colleagues and
congregation. So far, her attempts to find a new clerical
position have failed. This case raises important
questions about the meaning and perceptions of the
body and gender of a priest. Drawing on history of
religions, anthropology of religion and the cognitive
science of religion, I will discuss it from the perspective
of marking boundaries between the categories of the
self, society and the human body. In my interpretation,
it is transgender pastor’s anomalous taxonomic status
within the normative Christian categorical thinking that
creates awe and fear and thereby poses a challenge to
conventional theological notions. The discussion is
based on my interview with the pastor in April 2010 as
well as on media coverage of her case.
Anwar, M Khurshee – University of Rayshohi,
Bangladesh
Islam, M Zulfiquar Ali – University of Rayshohi,
Bangladesh
dramatization of tHe PaHaria rites of
Passage: a study on tHe etHnic community
in nortHWestern BangladesH
The present paper is designed to mirror the rites of
passage the Paharia people dramatize in the ethnic ways
of their livelihood. Their different rites and events those
are observed by them to recognize and to label the social
status and respective duties are detailed in this essay. In
gathering empirical data on their life-cycle rituals, the
paper is primarily based on qualitative paradigm and
thus it utilizes the techniques of observation, focus
group discussions, case studies and oral history. The life
cycle of the Paharias stages from conception, birth, and
childhood to old age and death through their
adolescence and adulthood is decorated with numerous
Paharia rituals. It attempts to unwrap the fact that their
new cultural identity as Christians impels them to leave
their traditional Paharia rites of passage and thus they
have to confront with such critical situation as they
would not completely ready to leave all of their Paharia
tradition.
The paper tries to delineate the time and day regarded as
good for rites, the material and non-material aspects of
observing the rites, the specific duties of respective
persons for each rite of passage. Finally, the paper tries
to formulate a number of cultural advocacies for the
Paharias which may help them adapting to the changed
cultural arena of social life.
Anyanwu, Herbert Onyema – University of Uyo,
Nigeria
religious reflection on environmental
crises: tHe nigerian examPle
Few of the ecological disasters which man’s
unfriendliness to nature has created can be briefly
discussed. Agulu/Nanka erosion sight in Anambra State,
Udi/Ezeagu erosion problems in Enugu State and
Okigwe erosion threat in Imo State are now serious
issues of national concern. The disheartening truth
about ecological crises is that man is the cause of his
problems. At the national level, ecological problems
necessitated the setting up of National Committee on
Ecological problems in 1982. This committee oversees
the ecological problems in Nigeria and draws money
from the ecological Fund to tackle ecological problems.
The term eco-justice as used in the paper is taken from
the combination of the words: ecology and justice. The
concept of justice always connote equitable treatment
and fairness. In environment discourse we use the term
eco-justice to refer to the type of equal treatment which
should be given the members of eco-system. Eco-justice
principles concern the welfare of all the members of
eco-system, nay the just course of action to be taken so
that the eco-system is maintained and sustained.
PRIMAL WORLD VIEWS AND ECO-SYSTEM
For convenience and space, we shall limit ourselves to
the African traditional world-view and the Christian
world-view. African traditional world view recognizes
three-tier worlds namely the world of God, the Supreme
Being who lives in the sky, the world of man, the earth
and the world of the spirits ancestors, beyond the earth.
The worlds of the gods, spirits and ancestors could be
merged to form the invisible world while the world of
man (matter) is the visible world. Man, plant, animals
and organisms that live in the earth from members of
the visible world. Ikenga Metuh explored the interaction
of beings in African world view. He maintained that the
interaction of beings in African world view is best seen
against the background of the African concepts of being
and the African concept of time. To relationship in the
eco-system, the African world-view recognizes man,
plant and animals.
XX tH WORLd CONGREss of the INtERNAtIONAL AssOCIAtION for the HIstORy of RELIGIONs
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