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TonyZa's avatar

I've met a chinese expat that held a portrait of Mao in his wallet as a good luck charm because Mao had been immensely powerful.

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Steven C Watson's avatar

This put me in mind of the bollocks theatre to ward off Covid. I don't know why.

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Grundvilk's avatar

It all sounds pretty much like the conduct and efficacy of modern federal and state level governments in the US (and elsewhere in the world) to me. Cargo cults, all -- and many, if not most, of the 'villagers' have come to the same conclusions about the poser shamans involved in those empty ceremonies, too.

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Jon Cutchins's avatar

I like it but I am rather at a loss for words.

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David Cockayne's avatar

This might have ranked as the weirdest account of modern ritual practice I have ever read (particularly since I lived in China from 1997-99, visited Lijiang and attended a couple of Naxi musical concerts).

But, on reflection, it is perhaps no so different in principle from what the Church of England is currently up to; with a similar reaction from traditional adherents such as myself. Throwing dazed chickens around would at least be entertaining compared to most Anglican services.

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Leo's avatar

Fascinating extract, but some further comment from your side would be welcome, if only balance the lengthy extract and place Chu's paper in a context larger than 'Maoist Shamanism.' The paper has been cited about 128 times with some interesting context on social bricolage [creation of meaning from a diverse range of available things.] I'm not a specialist, but interested. Thank you for the posting.

Here is a citation and the full paper can be found [try Sci-Hub ;-)]

Chao, E. (1999). The Maoist Shaman and the Madman: Ritual Bricolage, Failed Ritual, and Failed Ritual Theory. Cultural Anthropology, 14(4), 505–534. https://doi.org/10.1525/can.1999.14.4.505

Cheers,

Leo

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meika loofs samorzewski's avatar

appreciated, thanks

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JBS's avatar

Sounds like the Church of Climate or the Church of Wokism today.

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meika loofs samorzewski's avatar

or peeps who believe Trump is chosen by their Christian god

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Steven C Watson's avatar

More proof if any were needed that their "God" is actually the Gnostics' arrogant; bumbling; self-obsessed demiurge Iadabaloth.

Someone has to step up to the plate and commeth the hour...

That it should be the God-Emperor is tough, but the candidate has to be palatable; has to be aware of the lateness of the hour; and has to be able to win.

The people this speaks ill of are not the voters, Xtian or otherwise, but the party "leadership" who failed to listen to the people, and who bumble on unaware of the peril to your Republic.

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meika loofs samorzewski's avatar

if we do not police narcissists in our midst we do nothing

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JBS's avatar

We need less religiosity about government too.

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meika loofs samorzewski's avatar

Same as the January 6 shamans...

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