We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
"What does it feel like when your religion moves under your feet?" Religion, Earthquakes and National Unity in the Republic of Altai, Russian Federation.
- Authors
Halemba, Agnieszka
- Abstract
This article proposes an interpretation of the conflicts that occurred in relation to the recent archaeological discoveries in the Republic of Altai. First, a particular controversy over the body of the so-called Ukok Princess is introduced. Subsequently, the author considers those characteristics of contemporary Altaian religious life that made an application of this discovery as an explanatory device possible, especially after the 2003 earthquakes. An analysis of those characteristics of Altaian religious life is made with the help of the metaphor "religion moving under one's feet", which is employed in three different ways: I. with reference to particularities of Altaian religious life based on the principles of unity of land and people and of importance of movement. Here, movement is understood both as a key feature underscoring Altaian religious practices as well as a metaphor that stands for flexibility and uncertainty of their encounters with spiritual worlds. 2. with reference to specific reformulation of Altaian religious life in the context of building a national ideology. This reformulation includes reduction of various forms of mobility and flexibility for the sake of stability. with reference to the earthquakes, when the land the foundation for Altaian religious life -- shakes under peoples' feet.
- Subjects
RUSSIA; RELIGION; NATIONAL unification; RELIGIOUS life; ANTIQUES; MATERIAL culture
- Publication
Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, 2008, Vol 133, Issue 2, p283
- ISSN
0044-2666
- Publication type
Article