Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0775828
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,373.00
Summary
A study of Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist Monks in modernising China. This project will analyse the relationship between religion and modernisation in China. There is a tendency for modernising states to abandon or marginalise traditional religions but paradoxically, while religious practice has undergone transformation and reform in China, Buddhism has not only survived but flourished over the last two decades. This project will investigate these changes and will assist in broadening the fields ....A study of Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist Monks in modernising China. This project will analyse the relationship between religion and modernisation in China. There is a tendency for modernising states to abandon or marginalise traditional religions but paradoxically, while religious practice has undergone transformation and reform in China, Buddhism has not only survived but flourished over the last two decades. This project will investigate these changes and will assist in broadening the fields of expertise in the vibrant and growing field of Buddhist studies within Australia, a development that will undoubtedly help to forge closer links in the region, both in academic forums and more broadly with informal people-to-people contact.Read moreRead less
Religious authority and linguistic change in late antique Egypt: non-elite perspectives on the rise of monasticism in contemporary documents. This will enhance Australia's hard-earned profile in the fields which contribute to its approach, promoting internationally the quality of local research. It poses questions which multilingual societies drawn from different migratory strands and strong indigenous traditions must face. Its answers will contribute to the debates Australia continues to have o ....Religious authority and linguistic change in late antique Egypt: non-elite perspectives on the rise of monasticism in contemporary documents. This will enhance Australia's hard-earned profile in the fields which contribute to its approach, promoting internationally the quality of local research. It poses questions which multilingual societies drawn from different migratory strands and strong indigenous traditions must face. Its answers will contribute to the debates Australia continues to have on these issues. It directly contributes to the preservation of the culture of Australia's own Coptic community, facilitating access to its own traditions, and providing a research focus to complement Macquarie's new commitment to the teaching of the Coptic language and history. The resulting monograph will transform international scholarship on a key development of world civilisation.Read moreRead less
Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-com ....Glocalisation and sub-national Islams in Indonesia: neo-traditionalism, local Islam and the commemoration of regional Islamic legacies. Australia is both directly and indirectly affected by dynamics within Indonesian Islamic society, but we have limited understanding of how Indonesian Islam maintains its local character, which is generally tolerant and peaceable, in the face of persistent globalizing forces that challenge the legitimacy of local traditions and tend to undermine healthy inter-communal relations by promoting confrontation and intolerance. This study will make a vital contribution to our understanding of the forces that are shaping the future character of Indonesian Islam and inform how we should best engage with Indonesia though government and social initiatives, including aid, education and media activities.Read moreRead less
Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-17 ....Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-1768), the restorer of all modern Rinzai. This study will investigate Dochu's methodologies, his scholarly predecessors, and his influences on contemporaries and on modern Zen scholarship by examining his analyses of Chinese vocabulary, his lexicography and text criticism.Read moreRead less
The Design and Decoration of Burial Chambers in Old Kingdom Egypt. This project represents a significant attempt to understand the rationale behind the evolving design and decoration of Ancient Egyptian burial chambers. The undertaking of this important research by Australian based scholars will continue to establish Australia as a leading nation in the important international discipline of Egyptology, while also continuing to forge a relationship with Egypt. During an era in which Australians h ....The Design and Decoration of Burial Chambers in Old Kingdom Egypt. This project represents a significant attempt to understand the rationale behind the evolving design and decoration of Ancient Egyptian burial chambers. The undertaking of this important research by Australian based scholars will continue to establish Australia as a leading nation in the important international discipline of Egyptology, while also continuing to forge a relationship with Egypt. During an era in which Australians have in general engaged in discourses of insecurity and threat, our project will resonate with many contemporary concerns, asserting a link between the growing sophistication of society and a concomitant sense of threat and insecurity.Read moreRead less
Religion at the End of the World: Anglican Communities in Western Australia 1829-c.2000. As the project will study Anglicanism as an internal variety of forms it will benefit minority groups in understanding their 'agency' in shaping religious traditions. The project will also contribute to breaking down stereotypical generalities about religions and religious groups in Australia that result from approaching any religion as a monochrome and uniform phenomenon. The identification of the various f ....Religion at the End of the World: Anglican Communities in Western Australia 1829-c.2000. As the project will study Anglicanism as an internal variety of forms it will benefit minority groups in understanding their 'agency' in shaping religious traditions. The project will also contribute to breaking down stereotypical generalities about religions and religious groups in Australia that result from approaching any religion as a monochrome and uniform phenomenon. The identification of the various forms of Anglicanism in Western Australia and their own particular religious cultures will be of benefit in substantiating the part played by indigenous, rural, and regional communities in the history of Western Australian society through the agency of Anglicanism.Read moreRead less
The Origins and Development of Islamic Terrorist Behaviour in Indonesia. This project has relevance for scholars, policy-makers and the broader community in understanding the causes and dynamics of terrorism in Indonesia. It will advance the scholarly debate about terrorist motivations and the relative importance of international and local factors. Its findings will be of direct relevance for the government in helping shape counter-terrorism and foreign aid policies. Against a background of c ....The Origins and Development of Islamic Terrorist Behaviour in Indonesia. This project has relevance for scholars, policy-makers and the broader community in understanding the causes and dynamics of terrorism in Indonesia. It will advance the scholarly debate about terrorist motivations and the relative importance of international and local factors. Its findings will be of direct relevance for the government in helping shape counter-terrorism and foreign aid policies. Against a background of continuing high public and media interest in terrorism, this project will make available information and analysis which contribute to informed discussion. Finally, this study will help to enhance Australia's reputation for expertise on terrorism and Islamic radicalism in our region.Read moreRead less
Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of cu ....Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of current Australian trends, in which welfare is increasingly being devolved upon non-government organisations. It also enlarges the foundation for a dialogue on these issues, assisting in creating better solutions at both a government and non-government level.Read moreRead less
Recovering the Experience of the Indigenous Evangelist in the Expansion of Christianity during the late Colonial Era. The relationship between religion and society is an issue of outstanding contemporary interest to Australians. The project will provide important comparative illustrations for the national current debate on the role of religion in society. Tolerance of social difference is at the heart of the historical spread of religions and their success in converting people from different cul ....Recovering the Experience of the Indigenous Evangelist in the Expansion of Christianity during the late Colonial Era. The relationship between religion and society is an issue of outstanding contemporary interest to Australians. The project will provide important comparative illustrations for the national current debate on the role of religion in society. Tolerance of social difference is at the heart of the historical spread of religions and their success in converting people from different cultures to share basic beliefs whilst continuing to embrace and celebrate cultural difference.
Australia's already strong international research profile in the field of mission and postcolonial studies will be further enhanced by the resulting publications with leading journals and international publishing houses.
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Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions f ....Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics in Indonesia. Mass preaching gatherings held by Indonesia's Muslims can draw crowds of up to two hundred thousand people, and are used by Indonesia's political constituencies, mainstream and fringe, to further their goals. An understanding of how political groupings utilise orations to further their interests will add to Australia's awareness of the political dimensions of Islam in contemporary Indonesia. Politicised preaching has repercussions for Indonesia's internal security and political stability; this research will increase Australia's knowledge on this critical topic by focussing on orations staged in sensitive political environments: rural communities, the urban poor and army barracks.Read moreRead less