SHAMANISM AND CHRISTIANITY Religious encounters among indigenous peoples of East Asia Edited by Olivier Lardionis & Benoit Vermander Variétés Sinologiques no.96 © Taipei Ricci Institute, 2008 265 pages / 16 x 21.5 cm / hard cover Language : English ISBN 978-957-29848-1-9 USD 21/ Euro 17 / NT 350

SHAMANISM AND CHRISTIANITY Religious encounters among indigenous peoples of East Asia Edited by -- Olivier Lardinois & Benoit Vermander – In February 2006 the Research Centre for Aboriginal Theology at the Theologate of Fujen Catholic University and the Taipei Ricci Institute held an international symposium to discuss the encounter of Christianity and shamanic practices of the indigenous peoples of East Asia and Oceania. The symposium was held in Taitung, a small town on the Pacific coast of Taiwan. The present volume is based on the results of the symposium, while offering additional material. The articles gathered here deal with shamanism according to various approaches (anthropological analysis, study of comparative religions, pastoral reflection) in a variety of cultural contexts (Siberia, Korea, minority peoples or popular religions of China and Taiwan, indigenous people of Borneo and Australian aborigines). This very varied presentation permits the reader to better grasp the complexity of the problem and the issues at stake. It also helps to show how much inter-religious dialogue is necessary at this level. Finally, it shows how Christianity can be enriched when it is ready to listen and learn from shamanic traditions which witness to a real wisdom in the way they accompany men and women faced with human misery. This volume also suggests some conclusions relevant for theology and pastoral work.