Tikopia Ritual and Belief (Routledge Revivals)

Raymond Firth

ISBN 10: 041569468X / ISBN 13: 9780415694681

Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug 2011, 2011

About this Item

Neuware - First published in 1967, this book gives some of the fruits of the author's study of Tikopia ways of thought as the result of three field expeditions. Most Polynesians became Christians more than a century ago but Tikopia had a substantial pagan population until quite recent years. This book of essays describes rites and beliefs of a people who still maintained their traditional institutions remote from civilization. Studies of totemism, of magic and of beliefs in the fate of the soul in the afterworld, not only throw new light on Polynesian attitudes but also contribute some novel ideas to the interpretation of standard theoretical problems in social anthropology. Studies of rumour, suicide, and a new essay on spirit mediumship, also provide links between social anthropology and psychology. A general review based on the author's visit in 1966 describes the modern position after the adoption of Christianity.

Seller Inventory # 9780415694681

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Tikopia Ritual and Belief (Routledge Revivals)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug 2011
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 041569468X
• ISBN 13: 9780415694681
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 216W x 138H x 0D millimeters 216 millimeters width by 138 millimeters height by 0 millimeters depth
• Weight: 870 grams

About this title

Synopsis

First published in 1967, this book gives some of the fruits of the author's study of Tikopia ways of thought as the result of three field expeditions. Most Polynesians became Christians more than a century ago but Tikopia had a substantial pagan population until quite recent years. This book of essays describes rites and beliefs of a people who still maintained their traditional institutions remote from civilization. Studies of totemism, of magic and of beliefs in the fate of the soul in the afterworld, not only throw new light on Polynesian attitudes but also contribute some novel ideas to the interpretation of standard theoretical problems in social anthropology. Studies of rumour, suicide, and a new essay on spirit mediumship, also provide links between social anthropology and psychology. A general review based on the author's visit in 1966 describes the modern position after the adoption of Christianity.

About the Author

Raymond Firth