[Upcoming Seminar] The Price of Belief: Money, Effort, and Reciprocity in Japanese New Religions

Title: The Price of Belief: Money, Effort, and Reciprocity in Japanese New Religions

Speaker: Isaac GAGNE (The University of Hong Kong)

Date and time: 2 December 2016, 1:00 – 2:30 pm

Venue: Room 11 Humanities Building, New Asia College, CUHK

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This talk draws on fieldwork with new religious movements in Japan. Through a case study of two groups I look at the “price of belief” in terms of the monetary, social, and emotional efforts of members. I examine how new socioeconomic pressures on religious organizations have pushed new demands onto members to "materialize" their belief, which has also produced creative and unintended responses by members. In this process, the transvaluation of monetary and personal commitment via a materialization of belief underlies and reinforces members’ commitment while creating new webs of obligation and reciprocity. 

Isaac Gagné is a Visiting Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong's Department of Japanese Studies. He works on religion, morality, mental health, gender and identity in Japan.

ALL INTERESTED ARE WELCOME! 

(A light lunch will be served at 12:30 pm. First come first served.)