Status and Sacredness: A General Theory of Status Relations and an Analysis of Indian Culture

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Oxford University Press, 1994 M06 16 - 352 páginas
Status and Sacredness provides a new theory of status and sacral relationships and a provocative reinterpretation of the Indian caste system and Hinduism. Milner shows how in India and many other social contexts status is a key resource, and that sacredness can be usefully understood as a special form of status. By analyzing the nature of this resource Milner is able to provide powerful explanations of the key features of the social structure, culture, and religion. He argues against the widely held view that the Indian caste system is best understood as a unique cultural development, demonstrating that many of the seemingly exotic features are variations on themes common to other societies. Milner's analysis is rooted in a new theoretical framework called "resource structuralism" that helps to clarify the nature and significance of power and symbolic capital. The book thus provides a bold new analysis of India, an innovative approach to the analysis of religion, and an important contribution to social theory.

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Contenido

1 Introduction
3
2 Theoretical Concepts
18
Key Elements
29
What Is to Be Explained
42
5 Explaining the Key Features of Caste
53
6 The Social Categories of Traditional India
63
Political and Economic Legitimacy
80
Additional Elements
97
12 On the Nature of Sacredness
163
13 The Worship of Gods
172
14 Salvation and Soteriology
189
15 Eschatology
204
16 Conclusions
228
Glossary
243
Notes
257
Bibliography
303

I
106
II
124
11 Status Relations in Marriage Alliances
143

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Página 181 - ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all £\. desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Página 54 - The village communities are little republics, having nearly everything that they want within themselves, and almost independent of any foreign relations. They seem to last where nothing else lasts. Dynasty after dynasty tumbles down : revolution succeeds to revolution; Hindu, Pathan, Moghul, Mahratta, Sikh, English are masters in turn ; but the village communities remain the same...
Página 279 - I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Página 224 - In its extreme inhumanity this doctrine must above all have had one consequence for the life of a generation which surrendered to its magnificent consistency. That was a feeling of unprecedented inner loneliness of the single individual.
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Página 35 - In content, status honor is normally expressed by the fact that above all else a specific style of life can be expected from all those who wish to belong to the circle. Linked with this expectation are restrictions on 'social' intercourse (that is, intercourse which is not subservient to economic or any other of business's 'functional
Página 113 - Matter issuing from them is marginal stuff of the most obvious kind. Spittle, blood, milk, urine, faeces or tears by simply issuing forth have traversed the boundary of the body.
Página 181 - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation; O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation: All ye who hear, Now to his temple draw near; Joining in glad adoration. Praise to the Lord...

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