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Samba in the Night: Spiritism in Brazil — Spiritualism

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Samba in the Night: Spiritism in Brazil

Name: Samba in the Night: Spiritism in Brazil
Price: 95.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780231084321

✍️ Hess, David J

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An anthropological study of Brazilian spiritism and its social context.

Hess draws on his position at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to analyze the intersection of religion and society in Brazil. The text focuses on the structural elements of spiritism, examining how mediums and healers operate within their communities. It avoids romanticizing these practices, instead offering a grounded view of psychic surgery and exorcism as social phenomena. The book serves as a resource for understanding the cultural significance of these events without endorsing their spiritual validity.

Key Themes

spirit mediumship psychic surgery Brazilian spiritism

Literary Context

This volume situates itself within the study of alternative religions in Brazil, published by Columbia University Press in 1994. It reflects the anthropological interest of the early nineties in documenting and understanding non-mainstream spiritual practices across South American cultures.

Hess, David J

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Mircea Eliade · Carlos Castaneda · Eduardo Viveiros de Castro

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Spiritualism

🏛 Columbia University Press 📅 1994 📖 214 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780231084321

Fun Fact

Hess delivers an exceptionally insightful and balanced ethnographic study of Brazilian Spiritism. It excels at demystifying complex spiritual practices through a scholarly yet engaging lens, offering rich cultural understanding. Readers seeking sensational anecdotes or scientific validation will be disappointed. For those desiring a rigorous, empathetic exploration of faith, healing, and cultural syncretism, Samba in the Night is a vital contribution to the anthropology of religion.

📝 Description: Samba in the Night: Spiritism in Brazil

David J. Hess, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, presents a scholarly examination of spiritism within Brazil in his 1994 volume. This work stems from his fieldwork and offers an analytical look at alternative religious practices rather than a devotional guide. The text covers specific phenomena including spirit mediums, poltergeists, psychic surgery, exorcism, and spiritual healing. Hess organizes these topics to show how they function within the broader social and cultural landscape of Brazilian society. The book is structured as an anthropological study, utilizing primary sources from the author's research to explain the mechanics and meaning behind these mystical experiences. It does not provide instructions for practitioners but instead dissects the sociological impact of these traditions. The narrative remains grounded in academic observation, avoiding supernatural claims while detailing the lived reality of those involved. Readers will find a clear account of how these spiritual practices intersect with daily life in Brazil during the period studied. This title suits scholars of anthropology, sociology, and religious studies who seek an objective analysis of Brazilian spiritism. It also appeals to readers interested in the academic study of alternative religions and social science perspectives on mysticism. Those looking for practical guides on witchcraft, astrology, or hands-on occult techniques will find this text unsuitable. The work is a dense, hardcover volume of 214 pages that prioritizes intellectual inquiry over esoteric instruction.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

David J. Hess delivers a rigorous yet engaging anthropological account of Brazilian Spiritism, grounding ethereal concepts in vivid fieldwork reality. The narrative effectively demystifies practices like psychic surgery and spirit encounters, presenting them as coherent cultural systems rather than curiosities. However, readers expecting a personal memoir or a practical guide to ritual performance will be disappointed by the scholarly distance. It is not suited for those seeking quick spiritual solutions or those uncomfortable with academic detachment. This book demands patience for its detailed exploration of belief systems, making it less accessible to casual readers looking for light entertainment but highly valuable for serious students of global esotericism.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of culture, spirituality, and anthropology will find this book particularly rewarding. It serves those seeking to understand the profound impact of syncretic beliefs on Brazilian identity beyond superficial stereotypes. The author’s immersive approach allows you to witness how spirit communication and healing rituals function as vital social and personal anchors in both urban and remote settings. If you are interested in how the mundane intersects with the mystical, this text offers a nuanced lens. It is ideal for scholars, spiritual seekers, and cultural enthusiasts who wish to grasp the intricate tapestry of faith that defines much of Brazil’s contemporary spiritual experience without relying on exoticized narratives.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the intersection of culture and spirituality, curious about global spiritual practices, or drawn to ethnographic exploration into the unknown, this book offers a compelling journey. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the rich, complex spiritual tapestry of Brazil.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

David J. Hess delivers a rigorous yet engaging anthropological account of Brazilian Spiritism, grounding ethereal concepts in vivid fieldwork reality. The narrative effectively demystifies practices like psychic surgery and spirit encounters, presenting them as coherent cultural systems rather than curiosities. However, readers expecting a personal memoir or a practical guide to ritual performance will be disappointed by the scholarly distance. It is not suited for those seeking quick spiritual solutions or those uncomfortable with academic detachment. This book demands patience for its detailed exploration of belief systems, making it less accessible to casual readers looking for light entertainment but highly valuable for serious students of global esotericism.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While written by an anthropologist, Hess makes the complex world of Brazilian Spiritism accessible. It balances scholarly rigor with engaging narrative, making it suitable for both academic study and general interest in spiritual phenomena.

The author approaches the subject from an ethnographic perspective, documenting beliefs and practices without validating or refuting spiritual claims. The focus is on understanding the cultural significance and lived experience of Spiritism.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Spirit Communication & Mediumship

The book meticulously documents the diverse forms of mediumship found in Brazilian Spiritism, exploring how individuals serve as conduits for spiritual entities. It examines the profound societal role these mediums play, from offering guidance to facilitating healing, and how their experiences are interpreted within the community's belief framework.

Healing Beyond Medicine

Hess investigates the extraordinary practices of spiritual healing, including the controversial yet widely accepted phenomenon of psychic surgery. The text delves into the cultural context and efficacy of these unconventional methods, examining how they provide comfort and perceived cures where conventional medicine may fall short for many believers.

Anthropology of Belief

As an anthropologist, Hess offers a scholarly yet empathetic lens on the complex belief systems at play. The book explores how Spiritism integrates into daily Brazilian life, examining its social functions, the syncretic nature of its practices, and how practitioners navigate their faith within a broader, often skeptical, modern world.

📜 Historical context

Brazilian Spiritism blends European doctrines (Kardec) with indigenous and Afro-Brazilian religions, forming a vibrant syncretic tradition. This study contributes to anthropological works documenting religious evolution in the Americas, illuminating how diverse cultural encounters forge new spiritual paths, often centered on healing and community connection.

📚 Glossary

Spiritism
Medium
Psychic Surgery

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might understanding diverse spiritual healing practices, like psychic surgery, challenge or expand your own perceptions of health, belief, and medicine?
Consider the role of a "medium" in a community. How do figures who bridge the mundane and spiritual realms influence societal norms or individual coping mechanisms?
If you were to conduct ethnographic research on a spiritual practice, what ethical considerations would be most crucial, and how would you balance observation with respect for belief?