Status and Sacredness

A General Theory of Status Relations and an Analysis of Indian Culture

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4736067
AutoresB M Morrison (0009-0002-0332-541X), M Milner (0000-0002-4353-1982)
Ano1996
Volume116
Fascículo4
Páginas752
Data de publicação1996-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of the American Oriental Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0003-0279 • E-ISSN: 2169-2289
EditoraJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/605449
OpenAlexW2044715627
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas51

Status and Sacredness provides a new theory of status and sacral relationships and a provocative reinterpretation of the Indian caste system and Hinduism. Milner shows how in India and many other social contexts status is a key resource, and that sacredness can be usefully understood as a special form of status. By analysing the nature of this Milner is able to provide powerful explanations of the key features of the social structure, culture, and religion. He argues against the widely held view that the Indian caste system is best understood as a unique cultural development, demonstrating that many of the seemingly exotic features are variations on themes common to other societies. Milner's analysis is rooted in a new theoretical framework called resource structuralism that helps to clarify the nature and significance of power and symbolic capital. The book thus provides a bold new analysis of India, an innovative approach to the analysis of religion, and an important contribution to social theory

Sociology · Religion and Society Interactions