War Magic

<p> This compelling volume explores how war magic and warrior religion unleash the power of the gods demons ghosts and the dead. Documenting war magic and warrior religion as they are performed in diverse cultures and across historical time periods this volume foregrounds embodiment practice and performance in anthropological approaches to magic sorcery shamanism and religion. The authors go beyond what magic 'represents' to consider what magic does. From Chinese exorcists Javanese spirit siblings and black magic in Sumatra to Tamil Tiger suicide bombers Chamorro spiritual re-enchantment tantric Buddhist war magic and Yanomami dark shamans religion and magic are re-evaluated not just from the practitioner's perspective but through the victim's lived experience. These original investigations reveal a nuanced approach to understanding social action innovation and the revitalization of tradition in colonial and post-colonial societies undergoing rapid social transformation.</p>