Social Ties
Ethical-legal Dimensions of Religious Death Practice of Samadhimaran in Jainism and Hinduism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Rishabh Gandhi
Time stops at death. In the intricate tapestry of Jainism and Hinduism, the practices of death with utmost equanimity i.e. Samadhimaran, encompassing Sallekhana, Santhara, and Prayopvesa, emerge as profound rituals deeply rooted in spiritual philosophies of detachment and liberation. The study's primary objective delves into the juxtaposition of these practices against modern societal perceptions of euthanasia and suicide, further elucidating their religious, ethical, and legal implications. A qualitative approach is employed, comprising an in-depth examination of religious scriptures, critical legal case evaluations, and enlightening interactions with experts from both faiths. The author has conducted empirical research by travelling across India and conducting interviews, surveys etc. These analyses reveal nuanced theological distinctions between Jainism and Hinduism, shaping their perceptions of Samadhimaran. Modern legal systems confront numerous challenges when addressing these ancient practices, especially given the dynamic interpretations of personal freedom, the right to life, and religious rights. The contemporary ethos, heavily influenced by globalization and shifting moral paradigms, further complicates the assimilation of these age-old traditions in today's world. In conclusion, while both religions revere Samadhimaran as a spiritually profound choice, the societal and legal intricacies surrounding its execution necessitate a balanced blend of religious sagacity and contemporary legal prudence. Encouraging interdisciplinary dialogues offers a promising path forward, aiming to bridge the spiritual depth of these rituals with the pragmatism of modern jurisprudence. The study underscores the urgent need for mutual respect and understanding in navigating the complexities of faith and law in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Sacred and Profane Powers in an Afro-Colombian Maroon Community: An Angolan Legacy?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Thomas Desch Obi
The largest maroon community in the Colombian Cauca was professedly Christian. The central palenque (palisaded maroon town) only came to be known by the colonial authorities when the inhabitants led a priest to their hidden location to provide religious services and establish a church in the eighteenth century. In their intra-communal duels they called upon the Virgin Mary in a unique martial devotion. Yet, they also continued to rely on leaders who made pacts with the Afro-Colombian devil to lead their military resistance against re-enslavement and their cultural resistance against oppressive whites who sought to deprive them of their land, culture, and livelihood. This paper explores this practice as a continuation of the Angolan legacy of political legitimacy and community ethics.
Values of Swiss Muslims : A Microscopis Analysis of Data Gained by Participant Observation
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mathieu Cudré Mauroux
As a researcher on a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, I conducted participant observation in two Swiss mosques. I attended events such as Friday prayers, courses for converts, lecture evenings, Iftar meals, celebrations of the mosque school and others; the result of this effort is recorder in over 100 field notes. In addition, 16 semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with believers from the two mosques in question. I use my data to define "morality" and "good values" as seen in this micro-context. I then present how the state of morality in Switzerland (partly also Europe) is seen within the two mosques. Spotlights, such as the topics of clothing and sexuality/marriage, deepen the microscopic view. Finally, the results are placed in a larger (also theoretical) framework.
Clandestine Migration: Embodied Liminality and Restorative Spirituality
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Isabel Rodrigues
As migratory routes become increasingly dangerous, successfully overcoming militarized border regimes, and arriving to one’s desired destination, requires as much physical endurance as spiritual strength. In this essay, I reflect on clandestine migration from Brazil to the USA drawing on migrant’s oral histories of faith. In the United States barriers to migration and anti-immigrant policies have a long history of racial and political discrimination. Criminalizing and policing migrants as dangerous and undesirable subjects, rest on claims of protecting, securing, and enhancing the rights of those who are construed as “natural” citizens despite being themselves descendants of migrants. In the present climate of labor disposability and political vulnerability, migrant’s rights— including the universal human right to mobility— are undermined as Europe and North America enhance border militarization determining who should be allowed to perish before reaching the country of destination. In contrast with anti-migration nationalism, religious institutions have been offering alternative narratives that legitimate human global mobility. Here, I intertwine spirituality and migration in an attempt to interrogate—how undocumented Brazilian migrants use religion to redeem themselves from the criminalization of clandestine border crossing and alter their entrance into a state of illegality and marginality. Unlike national ideologies, religion and spirituality liberate subjects from state-enforced borders. As such, migration becomes part of a larger prophecy prolonged from biblical times to the present, where God—as opposed to the migration police or the state —becomes the main arbitrator of history and human mobility.
