Sexuality and alimentation are related in many ways. In this paper only one of the social aspects of these relations is presented. Cannibal wars and human sacrifi ce are structurally bound to the rules of marriage in various societies. The comparative study presented is limited to only two very different primitive societies living in completely different ecosystems, showing the various ways in which they articulate their respective solutions to these basic human needs.

On Exploring Myth in the the Contex of Iconic – Turn

This article concerns the issue exploring myth in the context of the iconic turn. Iconic turn, opposed to formulating images as texts, signs or illustrations, treats both images and imagery as categories of cultural phenomena analysis. Attributing theory-cognitive status to images, the article explores the relation between cognition, imagination, image and myth. Considering the differentia specifica of mythical thinking – imagery, we can say that the assumptions of iconic turn are at the very heart of myth knowledge issues, especially the issues of myth and mythopoiesis. They also reach the problems of separating basic mythical images as cultural images, image acts as constituting myths and the relation between the imagery and textuality of myth.

This article provides the first step of a threefold argument on why an integrative model for theorizing ecstasy is necessary and how this could be accomplished. This article sets out with some preliminary epistemological remarks on normativity and religious experience as a legitimate object of inquiry that have to be made in order to prepare the larger argument. Afterwards I.M. Lewis’s sociological theory of ecstasy will be outlined and its numerous advantages pointed out. The strength of the theory lies mainly in explaining ecstasy in highly hierarchical societies and in those cases where it occurs in connection with material gain. It fails however to be applicable in situations when the subjects do not achieve or aim at achieving improvement of their material or societal statuses, but quite contrarily (and gladly) give up possessions and positions. The same applies for social structures where a high degree of equality has been achieved and ecstasy or ecstatic spiritpossession does not have to function as a releasing remedy for social tensions. These cases of ecstasy can better be explained by theories that could be called “psychological”, or even “psychotheological”, that will be discussed in the next paper.

Insulting Religious Feelings – Controversy over Article 196 of the Polish Penal Code

Article 196 of the Polish Penal Code regulating questions of insulting religious feelings is still a matter under discussion and the cause of differences in interpretation. There are several reasons for this. First, the sphere of religious feelings is very diverse and depends on the subjective sensitivity of each believer. This is the basis of the postulate of the research on the predominant social assessment of decisions concerning infringement of the law. Secondly, defi ning what the subject of religious veneration is requires references to specifi c religious groups, which in turn may indicate the different categories of the objects (material, personal, dogmatic, ritual), and this may then cause the problem of distinguishing “the object of religious veneration” and “the objects intended for religious veneration” not specified in the Penal Code. Thirdly, the limits of conflicting freedoms, as a result of their evolution and cultural changes, still arouse new controversies, as the restrictions on freedoms under the law are not suffi cient to resolve all doubts.

Chezer – the Green Prophet

Khadir, or Khwaja Khadir (Khizr, Khezr, Arabic: “green”, “greenish”), Green Prophet (green symbolising “freshness” and new life) is a popular and familiar fi gure across Arabic countries, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, India and the Far East. The complex and mysterious fi gure of Khezr is connected with Idris, Elijah, Enoch, Saint George, and Skanda, and is associated with the water, cave, and immortality (he lives on an island or upon a green carpet in the heart of the sea, or else in the far northern country called Yuh, which seems to be an earthly paradise). Khezr is reputedly the only soul who has gained life immortal from tasting the Fountain of Life. He is still alive and continues to guide those who invoke his name. In popular Islamic lore Green Prophet is also the mysterious guide, an angel, the immortal saint and the hidden initiator of those who walk the mystical path. He appears in Sura 18, 66 (Al Kalf, “The Cave”) where together with Moses he goes on a long journey to a point where two rivers met. But his wisdom surpasses that of Moses, and has rather a tinge of gnosis, the character of divine wisdom imparted by God to the Prophet Muhammad and the Prophet Khidr.

Recenzja książki: Bryan S. Turner, Religion and modern society,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2011, 372 strony

Recenzja książki: Aleksander Gomola, Bóg kobiet.
Studium językoznawczo-teologiczne, Wydawnictwo Biblos, Tarnów 2010, 304 strony
 

Recenzja książki: Maciej Czeremski i Jakub Sadowski, Mit i utopia,
Libron, Kraków 2010, 218 stron

Recenzja książki: Peter Burke, Historia kulturowa, tłum. Justyn Hunia, WUJ, Kraków 2012, 200 stron