Religious practices and religions involving spiritual experiences are growing in popularity around the globe. Academics too are turning their study to the practices of these religions. The interest is in understanding shamanism, trance and spirit possession from different standpoints, including, vitally, from the point of view of those taking part and from different academic disciplines.[SNIP]
Since the advent of psycho-analysis, Western culture has taken an increasingly ‘medicalised’ view of spiritual experiences. Other theories have looked at the function of possession- explaining the prevalence of women in these types of religious practice as providing an outlet for oppressed women – neither view provides a complete answer.
Tags: religion, spirituality
