Religion and Touch

Christina Welch is an interdisciplinary neurodiverse scholar and Reader in Theology, Religion and Philosophy at the University of Winchester (UK), where she leads a Masters degree in Death, Religion and Culture. Amy R. Whitehead is a Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at Massey University in Aotearoa, New Zealand, with a background in the Study or Religions. She specialises in ritual, NRM's, and the material and performance cultures of religions.

• IntroductionPart I: Reciprocity and Knowing: Being in Touch with ThingsChapter 1: Tattooing Ritual and the Management of Touch in PolynesiaSebastien Galliot, Centre for Research and Documentation on Oceania, Marseilles Chapter 2: Touch, Clothing and Exchange in Guyanese HinduismSinah Kloss, University of BonnChapter 3: Accommodating Crisis: Exploring the Dynamics of Touch and Material Devotion in Alcala de los Gazules, Spain Amy Whitehead and Gabriel Bayarri, Macquarie University and Complutense University of Madrid Chapter 4: Widsith’s Lyre: A Personal Exploration of Religion, Music and TouchAndy Letcher, Schumacher CollegeChapter 5: Being There: Anglo-Indian Roots Tourism ExperiencesRobyn Andrews, Massey UniversityPart II: Crafting Devotion: ritual labourChapter 6: Temple Exchanges in Bali: People, Gods and the Sense of TouchGraham MacRae, Massey UniversityChapter 7: Death Doulas and Coffin Clubs: Exploring Touch and the End of LifeSuzi Garrod, Death Doula and Bereavement Counsellor, and Bronwyn Russell, Independent ScholarChapter 8: Touch and Other Senses: Feeling the Truth in Basket DivinationSonia Silva, Skidmore CollegePart III: Ritual and Touch, Communication, Knowledge-making Chapter 9: “I am broken, I am remade. And I am held tightly through all that comes between.” - BDSM and Religioning on the Edge Alison Robertson, The Open UniversityChapter 10: Religion, Touch and Death: Ritual and the Human CorpseChristina WelchChapter 11: Spiritual Hugging as a Ritual ActMichael Houseman, PSL Research University, France Chapter 12: Touched by God: Tactile Aspects of the Christian FaithGeorge Chyssides, University of Birmingham and York St John University