Liminal Reality and Transformational Power

Liminal Reality and Transformational Power explores, draws together, and integrates the many facets of liminality, and informs our understanding of liminal phenomena in the world. Through anthropology, sociology, theology, neurology and psychology, Carson correlates exterior transitions with their corresponding intra-psychic movements and points toward useful methods that contribute to personal and social transformation. In this revised edition, Carson has recognised the resurgence of liminality, and addresses the social transitions that are prevalent today in communities around the world. He examines the identity of the 'liminal' person and highlights the role of ritual leaders and religious professionals as they guide people through liminal time and space. Carson's work greatly contributes to an expanded understanding of the complex dimensions of religious leadership and provides useful insight into our intra-psychic processes during the significant transitional stages in life.

Table of Contents

"Foreword
Preface
Foreword to the Revised Edition
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part I
Chapter 1. Anthropology and the Rites of Passage
Chapter 2. Life, Death and Rebirth
Chapter 3. On Being There All the Time
Chapter 4. The Inside of the Outside
Chapter 5. In Our Stars or in Our Genes
Chapter 6. Continuity and Context
Chapter 7. Present Day Passage
Chapter 8. More Than Madness

Part II
Introduction to Part II
Chapter 9. The Liminal Locale of Hospitalization
Chapter 10. Higher Education as Liminal Domain
Chapter 11. In Season and Out of Season
Chapter 12. Liturgy Betwixt and Between
Chapter 13. Caring Through the Passage
Chapter 14. The Transforming Tribe
Chapter 15.  The Liminality of War

Epilogue: The Minister as Liminal Being
Appendices
Appendix 1. Biblical References in which the Number Forty Serves as Symbol of Liminal Reality
Appendix 2. The Rites of Passage Model
Appendix 3. The Cyclical Rites of Passage Model
Appendix 4.  Scriptural Resources
Bibliography
Index"

Timothy Carson is a writer, pastor, teacher, and Curator of TheLiminalityProject.org. He holds the Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Education degrees. He is the author of several works that explore the intersection of faith and culture such as The Square Root of God: Mathematical Metaphors' and 'Spiritual Tangents and Six Doors to the Seventh Dimension. In his most recent book he serves as the editor of the internationl anthology Neither Here nor There: The Many Voices of Liminality.