An introduction to pilgrimage, animism, and agency: putting humans in their place

John Eade, Nurit Stadler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

© 2022, Informa UK Limited. The attached document (embargoed until 10/11/2023) is an author produced version of a paper published in RELIGION, STATE AND SOCIETY uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.

In this collection of three articles that draw on ethnographicresearch and a more theoretical afterword, we seek to stimulatedebate and substantive analysis by looking beyond the dominantapproaches towards religion, state, and society through a focus onpilgrimage from a relational perspective. Rather than draw onexplanations that concentrate on human actions, meanings, andinterpretations, such as those informed by representational, interpretive, and hermeneutic approaches to human thought and practice, we explore the relationship between humans and those who could be defined as ‘other-than-humans’ or ‘non-humans’, such as animals, plants, and things, and who are seen as possessing their own being and immanent agency where they affect humans rather than just being the object of our affections or control. We begin by introducing the dominant approaches towards religion and pilgrimage and then outline the ways in which alternative avenues have been explored through a relational approach towards the links between people, places, and materialities. The four contributions are then introduced and the key points drawn out before discussing how this collection can encourage the exploration of avenues beyond the dominant approach, not only in pilgrimage research but also in the study of religion, state, and society more generally.© 2022, Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The attached document (embargoed until 10/11/2023) is an author produced version of a paper published in RELIGION, STATE AND SOCIETY uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.
Original languageUndefined
Article numberVOL. 50, NO. 2
Pages (from-to) 137–146
Number of pages9
JournalReligion, State and Society
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 May 2022

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