Religion, Technology, and the Things in Between

Jeremy Stolow presents the introduction to his recent book, Deus in Machina: Religion, Technology, and the Things in Between. The introduction, as well as the book itself, investigates the myriad ways that religion and technology are interwoven.

Originally published in:

(2013) Stolow, Jeremy (Ed.),
Deus in Machina: Religion, Technology, and the Things in Between
New York: Fordham University Press.

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The 'Temple of the Vedic Planetarium' as Mission, Monument and Memorial

Urmila Mohan explores the monumental "Temple of the Vedic Planetarium" being built in Mayapur, West Bengal, India, as an example of mediation that intertwines the expansionary goals of Iskcon and the aspirations of local devotees and non-devotees. The temple/planetarium is critiqued for its ability to missionise by providing a compelling spiritual experience and view of a Vedic universe.

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Food for Thought: The Contributions of 'Matière à Penser' to the Study of Material Culture

Jean-Pierre Warnier offers us a précis on the aims of the Matière à Penser working group. The French term -- 'Matière à Penser' -- translates into 'food for thought.' The group has developed a cutting edge approach to studying "bodily-and-material-culture" in motion by synthesizing a variety of theories regarding the body, subjectivity, and material culture.

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Non-ordinary Powers: Charisma, Special Affordances and the Study of Religion

Ann Taves presents a rich theoretical work on religious objects. Reviewing Max Weber's ideas about charisma, J.J. Gibson's ecological psychology, and a range of other theorists too numerous to mention, Taves produces a novel account, deeply informed by cognitive science, regarding the fascinating roles objects have played in religious traditions.

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