இந்தியா சாராத உலக இந்துமதம் - செமினார்

Global Gurus and the 'De-Ethnization' of Hinduism in the United States and Singapore by Prof Joanne Waghorne

Date: 18/09/2007
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Venue: ARI Seminar Room
469A Tower Block, Level 10, Bukit Timah Road
National University of Singapore
Organisers: ARI Seminar Series Committee

Description:
CHAIRPERSON
Prof Bryan Turner, Asia Research Institute & Dept of Sociology, National University of Singapore


ABSTRACT


Two major trends in the worldwide development of Hinduism seem to clash, collide, and sometimes coalesce. First, the revival of temple ritual and temple culture occupies the Hindu diaspora from Washington DC to London. Modern Hindu temples with new middle-class patrons appear everywhere that Hindu have emigrated including cities within India created by massive migration during the early modern era. These temples may be worldwide but like the Mariamman Temple here in Chinatown many openly or covertly carry same sign, “No Tourists allow beyond this point.” But another trend is beginning: the worldwide spread of Hindu-oriented guru-centered communities. Here in Singapore a casual look at the Registry of Societies (and strolling the streets of Little India) reveals numerous organizations with links abroad or creating new relationships outside of Singapore: Art of Living Society (4 centers), Satya Sai Baba (14 centers), Radha Soami Satsang, Sri Aurobindo Society, Ramakrishna Mission, Amritanandamayi Society, Ekantar, Krishna Consciousness, and on to over 25 and still counting. While many of these remain mostly confined to the Indian community, all seem to profess an understanding of being “Hindu” that transcends ethnic identity—in a sense they do welcome the “tourist.” In addition, a distinction between being “spiritual” and being a member of a “religion” enters most of my conversations with members of these societies in Singapore as elsewhere. The distinction somehow allows for the presence of non-Indians in their midst. In the United States the number of “non-heritage” Hindus grows via many of these same organizations. I have seen Chinese people not only in Hindu temples but even more present in major groups like the Satya Sai movement and even at the smaller Raghavendra Society’s annual celebration of their guru’s attainment of sainthood.

The numbers are small here and in the USA but these new movements—read as “cults”—seriously worry those in the clearly identifiable “Religions” as well as many academic who fret about their collusion with commodity culture. This presentation will ask: What are the contours of these movements? What does this turn to new religious movements and especially to the frequently stated difference between religion and spirituality mean? And what do these movements tell us about religion and globalization in the contexts of the United States and Singapore?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER


Dr Joanne Waghorne received her PhD from the University of Chicago in History of Religions and South Asian Studies and is currently Professor of Religion at Syracuse University. She studies the interrelation of globalization and religion in the context of contemporary Hindu organizations and movements in India and the diaspora. Her recent book Diaspora of the Gods: Modern Hindu Temples in an Urban Middle-Class won the 2005 American Academy of Religion award for excellence in analytical-descriptive studies of religion. Her other publications include The Raja's Magic Clothes: Re-visioning Kingship and Divinity in England's India (1994) as well an earlier study of epic retelling and politics in the life of the South Indian statesman, C. Rajagopalachari and an edited volume on the worship of the divine image in India.


REGISTRATION

We would gratefully request that you RSVP to Valerie Yeo at Tel No. 6516 5279 or e-mail: ariyeov@nus.edu.sg.