Bracketing (Belief)
ASAANZ Conference at University of Canterbury,
9-11 November 2006
All of us, and anthropologists are no exception, often loosely talk about people "believing" (in) something or holding "beliefs" and being guided in their actions by "belief-systems". It is central to religion, of course, but also seems to have become crucial to 'secular' modes of thought, such as those which inform 'development', business practice, even politics.
The idea that actors are guided by their beliefs assumes a bridge between ideas and action (a mental process) without, however, being able to actually pin it down (i.e. describe and conceive it). It is thus so much more surprising (or is it?) that the issue had been relegated to the margins and has been largely neglected in debates on anthropological writing.
Rodney Needham 34 years ago addressed part of this issue in a contemplative book (Belief, Language and Experience, London: Routledge 1972). Not only did he exhibit the wide range of applications of the term, which makes it difficult to identify a core meaning; Needham also demonstrated that we cannot establish specific mental or psychic processes to which notions like "belief" might refer, and showed with the help of Wittgenstein that it does not make sense to conceive of thinking independently of giving expression to it. Moreover, Needham made clear how culturally specific (European-Christian) the "belief" concept is (Talal Asad made a similar point later). Concepts which flourished after Needham's book was published - discourse, praxis/habitus, performance - could partially answer the question how ideas relate to action. But as even the late Foucault had to acknowledge, human "subjects" have reflective capabilities that allow us to distance ourselves from discourses and to process ideas, images, representations.
The issue remains before us: What are the various modes in which people relate to ideas? What makes ideas or "beliefs" mobilize people for a (common) cause? In which way does everyone involved believe in what s/he is pursuing? How does the way people relate to ideas (other than just cynically) actually influence social processes? This is especially crucial in situations of social tension, turmoil or change, and of competing discursive strands. Finally, how do we go about representing the act or state of believing? What representational possibilities are available to us, especially if we do not share the ideas or beliefs we report on (and may even find them illusory)?
The conference suggests revisiting a question that keeps intriguing anthropology and social sciences in general and invites case studies and conceptual reflections from recent fieldwork.
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Keynote speaker: Ghassan Hage.
Serious Beliefs: Approaches to Islamic Fundamentalism.
There is a sense in the Western world that the disposition to not take
your religion too seriously was part of the condition of possibility of
a culture of 'secularism' structured around the separation of church and
state. Today, the rise of Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious
fundamentalism around the world makes many of us face the radical
alterity of those who 'seriously believe in their God, his Laws and his
prophets'. Many see the fundamentalists as believing 'too much'. But
what does it mean to think of belief in God in a more or less rather
than an either/or mode? Is it not a rejection of religious belief /in
toto/. In this paper I will explore ethnographically certain features of
the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and the Arab
diaspora, and I will go back to the classical debates between Levy Bruhl
and Durkheim, as well as Witgenstein's critique of Fraser's Golden
Bough, on the nature of magical belief, to delve into some aspects of
the question:
What does it mean to take one's religion seriously?
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Submit an Abstract
Abstracts of papers to be presented at the conference are due on 15 October 2006.
Abstracts should have less than 500 words. Please send abstracts as Word documents or else RTF (Rich Text Format) files, Times Roman, justified and single-spaced. Title in bold caps, presenters' names in caps and Affiliation in Title Case.
Indicate if you are planning a poster or intend to use Power Point.
Please submit abstracts by e-mail as attached files and with the Subject heading "ASAANZ Abstract" and email to Martin Fuchs at martin.fuchs@canterbury.ac.nz.
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Registration Form
 Download the Bracketing (Belief)
Conference Registration Form in PDF format (10k)
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Conference venue
The conference is being held at the Macmillan-Brown Centre for Pacific Studies on the University’s main campus, which is located in the suburb of Ilam – it is not in the centre of the city. However, its pretty easy to get to the University by bus.
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Finding the University
Christchurch City Maps
There does not seem to be one map with the city and the university on it.
You will need to look at Maps 12 and 13 http://www.ccc.govt.nz/maps/wises/
University of Canterbury Map:
http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/theuni/maplocations.pdf
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Bus Routes
Busses 19 (Burnside), 21 (Ilam), 24 (Hyde Park) and 3 (Avonhead) travel between the city and the University. In addition, Metrostar (Hallswell-New Brighton route) travels via the University but does not go to the city.
The fare is $2.50 each way, and you can pay on the bus.
Information on routes and timetables can be found on: http://www.metroinfo.org.nz/timetables/pdfs/21_ilam_mtpleas.pdf
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Conference Accommodation
The closest accommodation is on Riccarton Road - there are huge numbers of motels located there. Budget accommodation, such as backpackers and the YMCA, are located in the city.
Budget Accommodation
Backpackers
Below is a list of backpackers. They are located in the city.
General Lists of Backpackers
http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/christchurch/accommodation/backpacker-and-budget/
http://www.backpack.co.nz/chch.html
Charlie B’s
http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/christchurch/accommodation/backpacker-and-budget/jumpto/24681
Around the World Backpackers
http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/christchurch/accommodation/backpacker-and-budget/jumpto/33638
City Oasis Lodge and Motels
http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/christchurch/accommodation/backpacker-and-budget/jumpto/32635
YMCA
This is in the city, next to Hagley Park. Its pretty okay, I think, and is possibly the closest to the bus route to the University. http://www.ymcachch.org.nz/accommodation/
Motels
Academy Motel
This is the closest motel to the University. It is located on Creyke Road, and it is on the Hyde Park (bus 24) bus route to the city. http://www.academymotorlodge.co.nz/
These are general websites for accommodation in Christchurch. Look for motels located on Riccarton Road.
http://www.christchurchnz.net/canterbury/wheretostay/
http://www.accommodationz.co.nz/christchurchmotels-a.html
There are dozens of motels on Riccarton Road, close to the University. The ones listed below are not necessarily the cheapest or niceist, simply the closest.
Clyde Motel
http://www.clydemotel.co.nz/
Aloha Motel
http://www.nz.com/new-zealand/accommodation/Christchurch/Aloha-Motel-hristchurch.aspx
Apollo Motel
http://www.apollomotel.co.nz/
Riccarton Motor Lodge
http://www.holidayguide.co.nz/Christchurch/RiccartonML.aspx
Fyffe on Riccarton
http://www.travelindex.co.nz/listing/Accommodation/Motels-and-Motor-Lodges/1013/
Riccarton Motor Lodge
http://www.riccartonmotorlodge.com/
306 on Riccarton
http://www.motel306.co.nz/
Riccarton Mall Motel & Dean’s Bush Motel
http://www.riccartonmallmotel.co.nz/
Kauri Motel
http://www.kaurimotel.com/
Ilam Motel
http://www.holidayguide.co.nz/Christchurch/Ilam.aspx
The Christchurch Motel
http://www.christchurchmotels.co.nz/
Ascot Vale Motor Lodge
http://www.ascotvalemotel.co.nz/
Westside Motor Lodge
http://www.westsidemotorlodge.co.nz/
Coachman Motel
http://www.coachmanmotel.co.nz/
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