Aboriginal Men of High Degree

Autorentext
Former head of the anthropology department at the University of Sydney, A. P. Elkin (1891-1979) authored eight books and numerous articles in Australia, the United States, France, and England, including The Australian Aborigines.

Klappentext

ANTHROPOLOGY / RELIGION The first book to reveal the secret and sacred practices of Aboriginal shamans, Aboriginal Men of High Degree presents an extraordinary series of rites by which the young Aboriginal male begins the degrees of shamanic initiation--each marked by its own portion of esoteric knowledge. One of Australia's most eminent anthropologists, A. P. Elkin focuses on karadji, or men of high degree, who possess magical powers and who serve as channels between the Dreamtime beings and their own communities. As psychologists and psychic experts, the karadji are essential to the groups' social chesion. They are believed to cure and kill mysteriously, make rain, anticipate future events, and appear and disappear at will. Not content to explain away these phenomenon, Elkin boldly suggests that we enter into the karadji worldview and try to understand this remarkable culture on its own terms. Former head of the anthropology department at the University of Sydney, A. P. ELKIN (1891-1979) authored eight books and numerous articles in Australia, the United States, France, and England, including The Australian Aborigines.

Zusammenfassung
The first book to reveal the secret and sacred practices of Aboriginal shamans, Aboriginal Men of High Degree presents an extraordinary series of rites by which the young Aboriginal male begins the degrees of shamanic initiation--each marked by its own portion of esoteric knowledge. One of Australia's most eminent anthropologists, A. P. Elkin focuses on karadji, or men of high degree, who possess magical powers and who serve as channels between the Dreamtime beings and their own communities. As psychologists and psychic experts, the karadji are essential to the groups' social chesion. They are believed to cure and kill mysteriously, make rain, anticipate future events, and appear and disappear at will. Not content to explain away these phenomenon, Elkin boldly suggests that we enter into the karadji worldview and try to understand this remarkable culture on its own terms.

Inhalt
*Foreword
Maps
Foreword to 1976 Edition
Introduction to the 1976 Edition
Introduction to First Edition*

Part 1
The Personality, Making, and Powers of Aboriginal Men of High Degree

Chapter 1
Aboriginal Men of High Degree: Their Personality and Making

Chapter 2
The Powers of Medicine Men

Part 2
The Making and Powers--A Survey

Chapter 3
The Uncircumcision Regions

Chapter 4
The Circumcision Regions

Part 3
Aboriginal Men of High Degree in a Changing World

Chapter 5
Mystic Experience: Essential Qualifications for Men of High Degree

Chapter 6
Animistic and Magical Causes of Illness

*Bibliography
Index*